Prince Harry and: Meghan Markle preparing for their first family visit to the United Kingdom in four years. Emerging details about their accommodations have sparked much speculation about where they may choose to stay during their time in Britain.The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to arrive in the UK in July with their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5. The trip has been in the works for a long time, as Harry is scheduled to participate in events marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, which will take place July 10-17, 2027.
Althorp House and Princess Diana’s estate
Attention is focused on Althorp House, the ancestral estate of the Spencer family located in West Northamptonshire, about an hour’s drive from Birmingham. The property’s official website indicates that it will be closed to the general public on July 10 and 11. This detail has prompted widespread speculation among royal observers and media outlets as to whether Prince Harry and his family may visit or possibly stay at the historic home during their planned trip.The land has great importance for the family beyond its historical and architectural importance. Princess Diana, Prince Harry’s late mother, was buried within the grounds of Althorp Park, specifically on an island located in the center of an ornamental lake known as The Round Oval within the grounds of the Pleasure Garden. This private location ensures that the tomb remains protected from public view even though the wider grounds welcome visitors on a regular basis.The timing of their visit has additional symbolic weight. The family’s July arrival will fall shortly after Princess Diana’s birthday on July 1, a date that has held deep meaning for Harry throughout his life. Additionally, Princess Lilibet’s middle name honors her late grandmother, further emphasizing the personal significance of any potential visit to Althorp.
Prince Harry’s previous stay at Althorp House
Harry has a history of staying at Althorp during visits to Britain. The property was owned by his uncle, Charles Spencer, the 9th Earl Spencer. Most recently, Prince Harry used the estate as a home in August 2024 when he returned to the UK for the funeral of Lord Robert Fellowes, a man who had a significant meaning in his life and family history.
King Charles III’s offer of royal accommodation
On the other hand, sources indicate that King Charles III, 77, has offered his younger son Prince Harry and his family to stay at one of the royal estates during their potential visit. However, according to the report, no formal response to this offer has been received from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at this time.This represents a continuation of the King’s previous gestures of hospitality. On earlier occasions, Prince Harry was offered accommodation at Buckingham Palace, although he declined the invitations. The offers were repeated, showing that King Charles was trying to make the visit easier and showed a willingness to help his son return to Britain.
The question of security remains unresolved for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
One of the challenges in planning the visit is the issue of security. Although the King, Charles III, can provide a place to stay on the royal estate, the Home Office, not the monarchy, is responsible for deciding the level of security protection. No additional security details have been provided for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s visit.The Duke of Sussex, who has been without taxpayer-funded police protection since he and Meghan stepped down from their formal royal roles in 2020, continues to dispute the arrangement. His immediate family has repeatedly asserted their right to safety in the United Kingdom and brought lawsuits against the royal family in this regard, citing reasons for concern.In his December 2023 statement to the High Court, Prince Harry explained his views on the importance of the UK to the identity and well-being of his family. “The UK is my home. The UK is the center of my children’s heritage and a place where I want them to feel at home just like where they live now in the United States,” he said. “That will not happen if there is no possibility of keeping them safe when they are on UK soil.”He further highlighted the wider implications of the security situation. “I wouldn’t put my wife in danger like that, and because of my life experiences, I’m reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way,” he added. The issue of security has been a constant obstacle to the family’s comfort and willingness to visit Britain.
Prince Harry and King Charles III at the last reunion
Despite ongoing tensions within the wider royal family, Prince Harry and his father have managed to meet on recent visits to Britain. Most recently, they met again at King Charles’ residence in London on September 10, 2025 while Harry was in the country for the Well Child Awards and events related to the Invictus Games. Their private meeting lasted 55 minutes and represented their first face-to-face conversation in 19 months.That meeting, although brief, appeared to mark a moderate warming of the relationship between the two men. However, no plans for a similar reunion during the upcoming visit in July have been confirmed.