Prince Harry turned down King Charles’s offer to stay at Buckingham Palace when he last visited Britain and chose to stay at a hotel instead, it has been claimed.
While it had been already reported in May that the Duke of Sussex had been offered accommodation for his short trip to London, it had not been disclosed at the time that the monarch had allegedly given his younger son the chance to stay at the official royal residence in the capital, the most prestigious and famous among the properties in the royal portfolio.
The invitation to use rooms at the palace was reportedly made when Prince Harry came to London three months ago to mark the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games, the multi-sports competition for sick, ill or wounded service people and veterans he launched in 2014.
A source described as “well-placed” told the Times of the Duke of Sussex’s visit in May: “I don’t know what more the King could have done. He offered Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace but that it seems even that wasn’t good enough. It was far from clear what the duke’s plans were. When it came to it there was no space in the King’s diary in between treatment and other scheduled events.”
Among the reasons Prince Harry was offered to stay at Buckingham Palace was its proximity to Clarence House, where King Charles and Queen Camilla reside when in London. Staying there, it is claimed, would have allowed for greater opportunity for father and son to meet during the duke’s London trip.
The King and the duke did not meet during the May trip, as stated by a spokesman for the Sussexes at the time. He said: “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme. The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities, and hopes to see him soon.”
A source with knowledge of the offer referred to Prince Harry’s security concerns while in the UK as they said: “It makes Harry’s decision to stay in a hotel all the more strange when the Palace would naturally offer all the security you could wish for. It would also have made more sense from a point of view of seeing his father as it would be easier for the King to see his son if they were staying nearby.”
While Buckingham Palace is still undergoing a £369million renovation, which started seven years ago, the property is used to host world leaders and relevant personalities during official visits.
In June, the Emperor and Empress of Japan stayed at the palace apartments during their state visit to the UK.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle retained Frogmore Cottage, the residence given to them as a wedding gift by Queen Elizabeth II, as their official home in Britain until June 2023, when they officially vacated it as requested by the King earlier that same year.
Prior to the duke’s trip to London in May, Harry had returned to the UK in February to visit his father after he had revealed his cancer diagnosis.
Express.co.uk has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex has declined to comment.
