Buckingham Palace and Prince Harry’s representatives have offered conflicting accounts over accommodation arrangements during the Duke of Sussex’s visit to London, exposing fresh tensions between the two sides.
The disagreement comes as Prince Harry arrived in the United Kingdom this week to support several of his charitable initiatives.
According to Buckingham Palace, the Duke of Sussex was offered accommodation at a royal residence but failed to confirm in time whether he intended to accept the invitation.
Royal sources said Harry’s team initially did not respond and later formally declined the offer on Saturday.
The palace said the Duke’s representatives later reversed their decision and attempted to accept the invitation the same day. Still, by then it was too late to make the necessary staffing and logistical arrangements.
Officials added that Prince Harry was informed on Saturday evening that he would no longer be able to stay at the royal residence.
A spokesperson for Prince Harry disputed the palace’s version of events, insisting the accommodation offer had already been accepted before it was withdrawn.
The spokesperson described the decision as “disappointing” and questioned why the offer was rescinded after it had been formally accepted.
“It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment,” the spokesperson said.
According to palace sources, another factor was the timing of a court ruling involving Prince Harry’s legal claims against Associated Newspapers, which is due to be published during his visit.
Officials were reportedly concerned about the optics of the Duke responding publicly to a high-profile legal decision while staying at an official royal residence, given King Charles III’s constitutional obligation to remain politically and publicly neutral.
Prince Harry’s team rejected that explanation, arguing that the timing of the court decision had already been known and should not have affected the accommodation arrangements.
The conflicting accounts have highlighted the continuing breakdown in communication between Buckingham Palace and the Sussex household.
Rather than presenting a unified explanation, both sides have publicly maintained opposing versions of what happened, underscoring the strained relationship that has persisted in recent years.
The dispute may also complicate any meeting between King Charles III and Prince Harry during the Duke’s visit, although no official meeting has been confirmed.
Despite the disagreement, Prince Harry is expected to proceed with his scheduled engagements in London and other parts of the UK in support of the charitable causes he continues to champion.
