Prince Harry is expected to return to the UK with Meghan Markle and their children next month, with the family reportedly set to stay at a royal residence after the Duke grew “increasingly frustrated” by delays to a security review.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, is due to travel to Britain on the first weekend of July for a week-long visit with Meghan, 44, and their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. It will mark the first time the family has visited the UK together in four years, since Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in 2022.
Harry and Meghan are expected to attend an event in Birmingham on Friday, July 10, marking the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games. The Duke will be joined by Meghan on stage as preparations continue for the sporting competition.
The Sussexes are reportedly planning to stay at a royal residence during the visit, understood to be Buckingham Palace, after Harry accepted an offer from King Charles. Royal sources have also said the King is expected to meet Meghan, Archie and Lilibet during their stay.
The visit would be significant for the wider Royal Family, as King Charles has not seen his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet since the Platinum Jubilee in July 2022. Meghan was last in the UK in September that year, when she attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry had previously declined offers to stay at a royal residence during solo trips to the UK, reportedly because he was concerned that a high-profile and visible building such as
Buckingham Palace could pose risks to his safety and privacy.
However, he is now said to have changed his position after becoming frustrated by the continuing delay to a review of his security arrangements.
A source close to the Duke said: “He has grown increasingly frustrated with the whole process and has had to alter his standpoint.
“From initially being told a decision would be made within a matter of weeks, it is now more than six months on. He (Harry) was determined to travel back to the UK with his family around the
Invictus event, so he has finally made the decision to accept the offer of staying at a royal residence which he believes will be sufficient for this trip.”
Harry has long argued that the UK is not safe enough for him to bring Meghan and their children without adequate protection. In May 2025, he said he could not guarantee his family’s safety after losing a legal challenge over the removal of his taxpayer-funded police protection.
No security detail
The Duke’s access to police security was withdrawn after he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States. Under the current arrangement, Harry is not automatically provided with protection when he visits the UK. Instead, he must give the
Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as Ravec, 30 days’ notice of any planned trip and provide details of his schedule.
Harry first challenged the decision in the High Court but lost the case last year. He then appealed, but the Court of Appeal also refused to overturn the ruling.
After the legal setbacks, Harry made a personal appeal to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, requesting that his case be reviewed. In December, he was granted a new risk assessment and was reportedly told it would take “a matter of weeks”.
The review has now reportedly been completed, but Harry has not yet been told the outcome. It remains unclear what security arrangements will be in place for the Sussexes during their July visit.
As reported by the BBC, while the Sussexes’ security arrangements remain unclear, no extra security provision has been offered by Buckingham Palace.
The corporation states that any additional protection would be a matter for the government.
The upcoming trip is expected to be one of the most high-profile visits by the Sussexes to the UK since they left royal life. It could also provide an opportunity for a private family reunion between the King and his youngest son, as well as Meghan and the King’s grandchildren.
