Prince Harry will travel to the United Kingdom next week for the first time since a fence-mending reunion last fall with his father, King Charles, ending speculation that security concerns would mean a complete cancellation of the visit.
His wife and children, originally included in the entire trip, will not be coming to London, according to a person close to the family, who said they are still weighing their options for the rest of the stay.
The trip to London was canceled for Harry’s American-born wife, Meghan, and the couple’s children after the British authorities confirmed that the family would not receive publicly funded security, and Harry’s own security team raised concerns.
Harry, 41, lives in California with his wife and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, who have not been to Britain together since 2022. The family was expected to travel together to London — a journey that would have presented Charles, 77, and his grandchildren, aged 7 and 5, the opportunity to meet in person for the first time in several years.
The trip is expected to include a number of public appearances beginning on Tuesday, as well as a visit to the northern city of Birmingham to mark the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games.
But there had been confusion in recent days over the exact arrangements, and much speculation from royal watchers and Britain’s tabloid press about whether family dramas or ongoing security concerns could derail plans.
The BBC reported in late June that the couple had accepted an offer to stay at a royal residence with their children for part of their trip, which it said Harry was making to kick off the yearlong preparations for the Invictus Games.
But Buckingham Palace later said that the offer of accommodation for the family on the royal estate had never been accepted.
The person close to Harry said it is still possible his family would join him for the latter part of his trip, when he is expected to travel to Birmingham. Harry founded the games, a competition for military personnel injured in service, over a decade ago. He will also have other engagements elsewhere in England relating to other causes he supports.
The British authorities’ decision not to provide publicly financed security protection for Harry’s family while in the country has been a thorn in the royals’ relationship in recent years. The family initially fell out publicly when Harry, who holds the title Duke of Sussex, withdrew from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the United States.
Harry wrote a tell-all memoir about growing up in the royal family and produced a six-part Netflix series about his relationship with Meghan, which detailed his rift with his brother, Prince William. He also filed a lawsuit — which he lost — challenging the lack of security detail.
But after Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, Harry told the BBC in spring 2025 that he “would love reconciliation” with his family. In September, he spent an hour having tea with his father in London, in what was seen as a potential first step toward healing the rift.
Leo Sands contributed reporting.
