Prince Harry's UK Visit Without Family
The Duke of Sussex will visit the United Kingdom next week without his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, and their two children, it has been reported.
Meghan Markle, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, will not accompany Prince Harry to London as initially planned. This change follows confirmation that the family would not receive taxpayer-funded police security during their stay.
There remains a possibility that Meghan and the children may join Prince Harry later in the week when his five-day trip moves to Birmingham to promote the Invictus Games.
It is currently unclear if King Charles will meet his grandchildren, aged seven and five, during this visit. The children have not seen their grandfather in person for four years. London was previously considered the most likely location for such a family reunion, especially after the Duke and Duchess accepted an offer to stay in a royal residence with their children.
The King has several public engagements scheduled for the upcoming week. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on private family matters.
Impact on Scheduled Engagements
Due to the change in plans, Meghan will not accompany Prince Harry to the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Wednesday for meetings related to the Invictus Games. Prince Harry will attend this engagement alone.
Discussions regarding security arrangements for the later part of the visit are ongoing, but no final decisions have been made.
Reports have suggested that the later portion of the trip may include a visit to Althorp in Northampton, the family estate of Prince Harry's late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. It is understood that there were intentions for Prince Harry to bring his wife and children to visit his mother's private grave.
Later Itinerary and Potential Family Reunion
The visit will transition from London to Birmingham on Thursday. There, Prince Harry is scheduled to visit the city's children's hospital to support WellChild, a charity he has continued to back since relocating to the United States.
If Meghan joins the trip later, she is expected to accompany Prince Harry at Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre to mark the year-long countdown to the venue hosting the Invictus Games.
Security Concerns and Previous Statements
Prince Harry has previously stated he would not bring his family to the UK without enhanced security measures in place.
"I could not see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point," he told the BBC in 2025.
The security challenges relate to the rulings of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which determines security provisions for senior royals and other public figures.
Prince Harry and Meghan were last together in the UK in 2022 during Queen Elizabeth II's funeral. Since then, Prince Harry has traveled to the UK alone and met with his father during a visit in September of the previous year.
