Prince Harry is expected to return to the UK next week to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham.
However, his reported last-minute approach to finalizing travel arrangements has sparked “frustration” and “weariness” among Palace staff, according to a new report.
The main issue appears to be the Duke of Sussex’s long-running dispute over police protection in the UK. Harry lost his automatic taxpayer-funded security after stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
According to The Sun, it remains unclear whether Meghan Markle and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will join him on the trip. That uncertainty has reportedly added to tensions behind the scenes.
Harry’s team is said to be exploring options to manage security for the family during the visit. Palace sources claimed the ongoing “will they, won’t they” situation has left some people “wary and weary” of another possible Sussex return.
The Duke had reportedly been waiting for a review by the Risk Management Board over his security arrangements. However, he was informed last week that the review has not yet taken place.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry said his UK schedule includes “both public and private engagements across the country.”
“The issue has never been accommodation,” the spokesperson added. “The issue is whether appropriate and proportionate protective security is being provided throughout the entirety of the visit.”
Sources close to the Duke also said he is continuing to explore every available option to make sure the visit can go ahead safely, while also giving his children the chance to spend time in the UK.
The UK government, meanwhile, has maintained that its security system is proportionate and rigorous. Officials have also declined to comment on specific security arrangements, citing the need to protect the integrity of the process.
