Prince Harry is thought to be “distraught” after learning his planned UK family visit may not go ahead, leaving him fearful that his children will miss the chance to see King Charles.
The Duke of Sussex had been preparing to bring his family to Britain for the first time in four years, but those arrangements were thrown into doubt when the Government refused his request for police protection beyond royal residences.
A source close to the prince indicated the trip was effectively derailed at the last moment, with Harry now scrambling to find alternative ways to bring his family safely to the UK.
The duke and Meghan had been organising their trip around Invictus Games events scheduled for Birmingham next month.
Harry was understood to be particularly looking forward to Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, spending time with their grandfather during the early July visit.
Such a reunion would mark the first occasion the King has seen his youngest grandchildren face-to-face since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
The family, who reside in Montecito, California, had intended to combine the Games-related activities with visits to friends and charitable organisations that remain important to the duke.
A source close to Harry told the Guardian: “Their plans to see family, friends and visit various charitable causes close to the duke’s heart have been pulled out from under their feet at the 11th hour.
“He’s looking at every option to try and get the family here safely and keep them safe when they’re on the ground. If he can find a way to do that he will.”
The source made clear that Harry refuses to expose his children to media pursuit without adequate security measures in place.
“The hope is they can meet their grandfather, but there is no way that can happen if they are chased by paparazzi wherever they go from the moment they step off the plane. He won’t put his children through that,” they added.
The security dispute follows Harry’s unsuccessful legal challenge against the Home Office last year, in which he sought automatic police protection during UK visits, arguing it was unsafe to bring his family without such arrangements.
Following that defeat, he was granted a full risk assessment and had been awaiting a ruling from Ravec, the Home Office committee that oversees protection for royals and VIPs.
A Government spokesman stated on Sunday: “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.”
Relations between Harry and his father have shown signs of improvement since they met at Clarence House last September, their first in-person encounter since February 2024.
