Harry’s ‘solo’ London visit raises fresh doubts over King meeting Archie and Lilibet
Security concerns have prompted Meghan Markle and the Sussexes’ children to stay away from central London during Prince Harry’s UK visit, while discussions continue over other Invictus Games engagements.
Prince Harry will reportedly attend an Invictus Games engagement in London alone next week.
According to The Sun, the 41-year-old Duke of Sussex’s wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 44, and their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, have been ruled out of travelling into central London because of security concerns, raising fresh doubts over whether King Charles, 77, will see his grandchildren during the visit.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been expected to appear together at a London hospital in what would have been Meghan’s first public engagement in the capital since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
The family are understood to be at an undisclosed location in Europe and are “still looking at options” to make the visit work “in some form”, but plans are now said to have changed so Meghan and the children will not be in London.
The development comes a week after the Sussexes said they were reassessing their itinerary following Harry’s unsuccessful legal challenge over his taxpayer-funded security arrangements in the UK.
Harry has continued to campaign over the issue, arguing the current security provision affects his ability to bring his family to Britain.
A source told The Sun: “There was an event planned for both the Duke and Duchess to attend an Invictus Games engagement at a London hospital but owing to security reasons the Duke will attend alone.”
Discussions are said to be continuing over whether Meghan will still travel to attend the Invictus Games one-year-to-go event at Birmingham’s NEC later in the week.
Harry founded the Invictus Games in 2014, and the international sporting competition for wounded, injured and sick service personnel has become the project most closely associated with his public life since leaving royal duties.
The couple have also remained in the spotlight through projects including their Netflix documentaries and Harry’s bestselling memoir, Spare.
The apparent decision not to take Archie and Lilibet into central London makes a meeting with Charles increasingly unlikely.
Charles is scheduled to undertake engagements in London and elsewhere in England throughout next week.
The Sun reported last month Charles had made a royal residence available to Harry, Meghan and their children during the visit, with Buckingham Palace believed to have been offered because it benefits from permanent security arrangements.
Royal Household sources told The Sun they were “weary” and “wary” about the changing plans surrounding Harry and his family’s proposed return.
The newspaper had previously reported in January Harry wanted to bring Meghan, Archie and Lilibet to the UK for the long-planned visit.
Last week, it was announced Meghan would join Harry at an engagement while bringing the children to Britain.
Days later, after learning the outcome of the security review, the Sussexes confirmed plans involving Meghan, Archie and Lilibet were being reassessed.
The Sun has also reported Harry intends to take Archie and Lilibet to Althorp in Northamptonshire to visit the final resting place of his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, if the family’s travel plans go ahead.
