MEGHAN AND CHILDREN WILL NOT JOIN HARRY ON LONDON TRIP

The Duchess of Sussex, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will not accompany the Duke of Sussex to London next week, according to reports. The duke is scheduled to visit the UK for five days, with the Duchess due to join him in Birmingham on Friday for an Invictus Games engagement. No decision has been made regarding whether they will join him for the remainder of his trip. The development follows a denied request for police protection for the family from the Risk Management Board, part of the process through which the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures determines security requirements.

It remains unclear whether Harry will accept an invitation to stay at a royal residence. He is reported to have liaised directly with King Charles regarding any plans to meet. Such a meeting would mark the first occasion the duke has seen his father in nine months, following tea at Clarence House in September. Harry's level of protection was downgraded in 2020 when he stepped back from royal duties, and he has not received police protection since unless attending official royal occasions. He is engaged in ongoing legal proceedings with the Home Office over security arrangements for himself and his family whilst in the UK.

The duke previously expressed concerns about bringing his family to the UK, citing security fears during a BBC interview following a Court of Appeal challenge against the Home Office last year. In that interview, Harry stated that King Charles would not speak to him because of his security court case. He said he could not see circumstances under which he would bring his wife and children to the UK at that point.