Palace says he ‘took too long’ to accept the invitation, but is it because he didn’t bring the King’s grandchildren on the trip?
The misadventures of the Windsor dynasty keep making headlines around the world as the father-and-son (and grandchildren) drama unfolds before the world.
Hours before he is scheduled to arrive in London for commitments tied to his ‘Invictus Games’, the Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, was hit with a bombshell development: he has been told he can no longer stay at Buckingham Palace, throwing his visit into logistical chaos.
Buckingham Palace says Prince Harry will not be staying there during his London visit, saying he missed the deadline to confirm the offer.
Harry’s team say he had accepted the invitation after earlier uncertainty, but the offer was later withdrawn.
The dispute adds to wider… pic.twitter.com/zjaea5ZlQ4
— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) July 6, 2026
This is actually not a surprising event, since Harry has been accused of using his children as a pressure tool against his father, King Charles II, to have him make an appearance at the Invictus Games, and also back his struggle to get beefed-up, taxpayer-funded security while in the UK.
Daily Express reported:
“Ahead of Harry’s return, esteemed investigative biographer Tom Bower took aim following claims that the family of four have not only been offered a stay in a royal residence, but could meet with King Charles while they are here. It would mark the first time the King had seen his two youngest grandchildren in four years – and the author believes that bringing the youngsters along is a form of ‘emotional blackmail’.
[…] ‘I think it is emotional blackmail, and I think that Harry needs the King in Birmingham to give himself and the game’s credibility, and I think that it will be very divisive’.
[…] He added: ‘I think the King would make a great mistake to fall in with the Sussex’s plan, with Harry’s plan. You’ve got to remember that when they left England […] they always said they needed a public apology from the King, the Royal Family and from Prince William, but there is not going to be an apology. It’s they who should apologize for all the lies and terrible damage they’ve done’.”
‘It was very much the fault of the Sussex camp, rather than the royal family’
Andrew Larman discusses confusion over whether Prince Harry will stay at Buckingham Palace during his visit to London. pic.twitter.com/SfZRGQDq9M
— GB News (@GBNEWS) July 6, 2026
The denial by the Palace today, just after Harry’s team announced that he had accepted an offer to stay at the royal residence.
The Telegraph reported:
“Only minutes after that decision had been announced, and just hours before he was due to arrive in the UK, a palace source indicated that the invitation had been accepted too late. The decision to rescind the Duke’s invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace was made in consultation with the King, it was understood.”
Much to his style, Harry declined the offer to stay at Buckingham Palace on Saturday, then changed his mind and accepted the invitation.
By then, the hospitality and staffing provision was no longer available.
“On Saturday, it was confirmed that after days of handwringing, the Duchess of Sussex and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, would not accompany the Duke to London after taxpayer-funded police protection was denied. […] The impending visit had already caused tensions with Buckingham Palace over multiple last-minute changes, briefings and counter briefings.”
There was much anticipation over the possibility of Harry children meeting their grandfather, the King, for the first time in four years.
The decision not to bring them to London was made on Saturday – and now the King seems to have soured on Harry for good.
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