Prince Harry will not stay at Buckingham Palace during his visit to the UK this week because the Palace withdrew the invitation after he missed the deadline to respond.
Meanwhile his team claims he had already accepted an offer from King Charles.
The Duke of Sussex is due to land in London on Monday without Meghan, Archie and Lilibet amid the continuing row over the family’s security.
A spokesman for Harry claimed this morning that the King had offered him accommodation at Buckingham Palace and that he had accepted after liaising directly with his father.
But in another twist, that claim was swiftly contradicted amid claims the Duke had failed to accept in time and had left it too late for the Palace to make the necessary arrangements.
Harry’s spokesman then released an extraordinary statement expressing ‘disappointment’ and accusing the Palace of withdrawing the offer ‘at the last moment’.
‘I am aware of multiple briefings from Buckingham Palace last week suggesting that the Duke had not accepted the offer of accommodation at a Royal Residence,’ the spokesman said.
‘Following RAVEC’s decision not to provide security for his family, the Duke spent last week making alternative security arrangements.
‘Once those arrangements were in place, he was able to formally accept the offer of accommodation for himself over the weekend.
‘It is therefore disappointing that the offer has now been withdrawn, with Tuesday’s judgment in the Associated Newspapers Limited case cited as the reason.
‘Buckingham Palace has, however, been aware of that judgment since last Thursday. It is therefore unclear why, having formally accepted the accommodation offer, it has now been withdrawn at the last moment.
‘It is yet another twist in ten days of tense negotiations over Harry’s UK security, a saga said to have left the Duke in tears,’ the spokesman explained.
Father and son are widely expected to meet, although any plans are likely to remain private.
The key question now is whether Meghan, Archie and Lilibet will also travel to Britain to see the King and spend time with him for the first time in four years.
