Prince Harry is “annoyed” ahead of his return to the UK return despite the Duke of Sussex reportedly refusing an offer to stay in Buckingham Palace, according to a royal expert.
The youngest son of King Charles is thought to have turned down the offer, making it unclear where the royal will stay when returning to the UK for his High Court trial against News Group Newspapers, which starts on Tuesday.
Former royal BBC correspondent Jennie Bond suggested that rejecting residency at Buckingham Palace was a PR mistake.
She said: “I think he will be mildly annoyed that he is not being given full police protection, but this is a step in the right direction as far as he is concerned.”
Prince Harry is ‘annoyed’ ahead of his return to the UK return despite the Duke of Sussex reportedly refusing an offer to stay in Buckingham Palace, according to a royal expert
Getty
She added: “I think it is a PR mistake to turn down accommodation at Buckingham Palace, where security is guaranteed and already paid for.”
After he announced he would step back from being a working royal in January 2020, Harry unsuccessfully contested a decision to downgrade his security when in the UK in 2023.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has agreed to provide Prince Harry with armed officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, a source told OK!.
Bond said: “It seems unreasonable to expect police protection around a hotel just because he chooses to turn down a perfectly good offer of secure accommodation.”
Prince Harry previously testified to London’s High Court in 2023 during a privacy lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers
PA
Bond told the Mirror: “I still don’t think he will feel comfortable bringing Meghan and the children here unless there is a guarantee of full police protection.
“And I suspect Meghan has no particular desire to come back here anyway.”
The Duchess of Sussex is expected to stay in California, where the couple reside with their two children, Prince Archie, Five and Princess Lilibet, three.
Prince Harry is understood to not be on speaking terms with Prince William or King Charles, leading Bond to suggest a meeting is unlikely.
She added: “I think we’ve given up expecting any meeting between Harry and his family when he visits the UK.
“I imagine that his days will be consumed by the court case, but if there is a chance of meeting his father, I suppose it is possible.
“However, there is absolutely no sign of any reconciliation between Harry and William.
“So any meeting between them remains unlikely in the extreme.”
