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Prince Harry ‘chose hotel over Buckingham Palace’ on last London visit

The Duke of Sussex is said to have turned down an invitation to stay with the royal household when he visited Britain in May

One of the reasons Buckingham Palace was offered was to allow greater opportunity for the King to be with his son
One of the reasons Buckingham Palace was offered was to allow greater opportunity for the King to be with his son

The Duke of Sussex preferred a hotel to the offer of apartments at Buckingham Palace when he last visited Britain, The Times can disclose.

The invitation to use apartments at the palace was made when the duke came to London in May to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games, his Paralympic-style sporting competition.

Although it was already known that the King, 75, had offered accommodation to his younger son, it had not been disclosed that the rooms were in Buckingham Palace, the most prestigious location. Charles was staying nearby at Clarence House.

Harry went to London in May to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation
Harry went to London in May to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Invictus Games Foundation

The Sussexes landed in Bogota, Colombia, yesterday (Thursday) to begin another trip before moving on to the Caribbean port of Cartagena and the city of Cali, near the Pacific coast.

Harry has taken the government to the High Court in an attempt to have his right to Scotland Yard security reinstated when he visits Britain.

He is thought, however, to see a distinction between the security risks facing him in Britain and travelling to Colombia, where he has the benefit of the state’s police protection.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle kick off Colombia tour with visit to Bogota

A well-placed source said of the duke’s visit in May: “I don’t know what more the King could have done.

“He offered Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace but it seems even that wasn’t good enough. It was far from clear what the duke’s plans were. When it came to it there was no space in the King’s diary in between his treatment and other scheduled events.”

One of the reasons Buckingham Palace was offered was to allow greater opportunity for the King to be with his son. Harry stayed in a hotel in London, but appeared dismayed when it became clear that the King did not have time to meet him.

Sources said the King had asked Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace to try to see him while he was in London. Niklas Hall’en/AFP
Sources said the King had asked Harry to stay at Buckingham Palace to try to see him while he was in London. Niklas Hall’en/AFP

A spokesman for the duke said at the time: “In response to the many inquiries and continued speculation on whether or not the duke will meet with his father while in the UK this week, it unfortunately will not be possible due to His Majesty’s full programme.

“The duke of course is understanding of his father’s diary of commitments and various other priorities and hopes to see him soon.”

A source with knowledge of the offer said: “It makes Harry’s decision to stay in a hotel all the more strange when the palace would naturally offer all the security you could wish for.

“It would also have made more sense from a point of view of seeing his father as it would be easier for the King to see his son if they were staying near by.”

A month after Harry’s trip to London, the palace apartments were used to host the Emperor and Empress of Japan during their state visit.

When Harry and Meghan were working members of the royal family, they lived at Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate. That property is still vacant but the King hopes his brother, the Duke of York, will move there on leaving Royal Lodge.

The development of an offer extended to Harry to stay at the most prominent royal residence sheds new light on the way in which the King has sought to accommodate his son.

Before his cancer diagnosis was announced earlier this year, he phoned his sons to break the news. Harry flew to the UK immediately and had a meeting with his father at Clarence House which lasted less than an hour before Charles flew to Sandringham.

The duke went to Nigeria with Meghan after his time in London. Picture: Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation
The duke went to Nigeria with Meghan after his time in London. Picture: Andrew Esiebo/Getty Images for The Archewell Foundation

The prince’s latest visit to London in May came soon after the King returned to full-time duties with the public after taking time away from large-scale public events while he had the early stages of his cancer treatment.

Harry arrived alone without his wife and two children. He attended a service at St Paul’s Cathedral with veterans associated with the Invictus Games. Harry then flew on to Nigeria with Meghan, who is understood to have touched down in London on her way to Africa. The couple accepted an invitation by the Nigerian government to stay in the country.

Harry visited the Honourable Artillery Company while he was in London. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation
Harry visited the Honourable Artillery Company while he was in London. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images for The Invictus Games Foundation

Harry is travelling to Colombia a week after President Petro accused the leader of a rebel faction of plotting a coup.

The US State Department and the Foreign Office advise against all but essential travel to parts of the country. Britain’s representative to the UN said last month that “we remain concerned about persistent levels of violence and threats” in Colombia.

Earlier this week it emerged that Josh Kettler, Harry’s chief of staff, had left the role after three months in the post. This summer the pair will not visit Balmoral, where other members of the royal family will gather for the annual break.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment, as did a spokesman for the duke.

The Times

Read related topics:Harry And Meghan

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Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/world/the-times/prince-harry-chose-hotel-over-buckingham-palace-on-last-london-visit/news-story/d58c996cd65efccb6d96c27396eafe9e