Prince Harry Chooses Hotel Over Royal Residence During London Visit
During his recent trip to London, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, made headlines by opting to stay in a hotel rather than accepting King Charles III’s offer to use a royal residence. This decision has stirred discussions about the ongoing dynamics within the royal family. Roya Nikkhah, the royal editor for the Sunday Times, reported that King Charles, aged 75, had extended the invitation for accommodation to his 39-year-old son, who has been without an official UK residence since relocating to California in 2020 with his wife, Meghan Markle.
Harry was in London to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games at a service in St. Paul’s Cathedral, an event he helped establish. However, his visit did not include a meeting with his father, sparking further speculation about their strained relationship.
In a statement to Us Weekly, Harry’s spokesperson clarified the situation, saying, “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 program.”
The choice to decline the royal residence offer has raised questions about the tension between Harry and the royal establishment. According to sources, Harry did not request to see his father, nor did he extend an invitation for the king to attend the St. Paul’s Cathedral service. During this period, King Charles was notably busy, attending a Buckingham Palace garden party, meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, and fulfilling a military engagement in Wiltshire.
A close friend of King Charles expressed disappointment, noting, “It’s all very sad. While he was hardly going to roll out the red carpet the moment this Invictus trip was announced, with doctors advising him to focus on his treatment and recovery, the idea that he refused to find space in his diary … well, let’s say recollections may vary once again.”
Relations between Prince Harry and the royal family have been under strain since he and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior royals and moved to the U.S. Their candid disclosures about their experiences within the royal framework, notably in a revealing interview with Oprah Winfrey, have only deepened the rift.
Despite these tensions, communication lines between Harry and Charles had recently reopened, especially after the king’s cancer diagnosis earlier this year. In February, Harry reflected on this, telling Good Morning America, “I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
As Harry continues his commitments, including a tour in Nigeria with Meghan, the scrutiny of his interactions with the royal family persists. His decision to forgo staying at a royal property underscores the complex and evolving relationship he maintains with the monarchy, amidst other personal challenges faced by the royal family, including the health issues of Princess Kate Middleton.