The Palace has withdrawn its offer of accommodation for: Prince Harry during his upcoming visit to London, tensions within the royal family worsened. The development comes as the Duke of Sussex prepares to be in the United Kingdom for a major legal case starting July 7.According to PEOPLE magazine, the Palace initially extended an invitation for Prince Harry to stay in a royal residence while in town. The Duke reportedly accepted this offer on Saturday, July 4. However, the same offer was withdrawn the same evening, according to the publication.
Competing explanations for withdrawal
Prince Harry’s representative gave a statement to the outlet addressing the sudden change. The statement outlines the sequence of events that led to the accommodation dispute. “I am aware of several briefings from Buckingham Palace last week suggesting that the Duke has not accepted the offer of accommodation at a Royal Residence,” the representative said.The statement goes on to explain about acceptance and withdrawal. “Following RAVEC’s decision not to provide security for his family, the Duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements. Once those arrangements were in place, he formally accepted the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend.”The representative expressed disappointment about the sudden withdrawal. “So it is disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s ruling in the Associated Newspapers Limited case being cited as the reason. Buckingham Palace, however, has been aware of that ruling since last Thursday. So it is not clear why, having formally accepted the offer of accommodation, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment,” the statement concluded.
Context of security concerns and legal proceedings
The accommodation dispute comes amid ongoing security complications surrounding Prince Harry’s visit. The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures has determined that it will not provide taxpayer-funded security for the Duke’s family to visit the UK, creating significant logistical challenges for the planned trip.Prince Harry’s legal case against Associated Newspapers Limited will begin on July 7, the first day of his visit to London. The timing of the withdrawal of accommodation in relation to this judgment represents another layer of complexity in the already complex circumstances surrounding his return to the United Kingdom.