Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals and moved to Montecito, California, full time in January 2020. Since then their visits to the United Kingdom have proved to be complicated. Their decision has driven a wedge between Harry and Prince William and King Charles III, creating a full-on royal rift via In Style.
Markle has only been back once (for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022) but Harry has had to make a few trips for family engagements (including to check on Charles after he announced his cancer diagnosis) and amid his lawsuit against News Group Newspapers, though he has mainly avoided run-ins with his brother and other royals. It seems Harry will continue this trend during his upcoming trip to London; he even reportedly declined an offer to stay at Buckingham Palace.
Harry’s trial against News Group Newspapers is set to start next week, which will require him to be in his home city. A source noted The Mirror that the Duke of Sussex was offered a place to stay in Buckingham Palace. However, he turned it down. They also stated that Harry will be given “limited police protection,” despite him losing his case for police protection. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has agreed to provide this protection during the trip via armed officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command.
It is not clear where exactly Harry will reside instead. During his last trip to the U.K. on August 29, 2024, the prince stayed at Althorp House, his mother Princess Diana’s childhood home, which now belongs to her brother, Charles Spencer.
Harry no longer has a residence in the U.K., as he and Meghan were asked to vacate Frogmore Cottage in 2023. The cottage was a wedding present to the couple from Elizabeth. Now, their closest residence is their new home in Portugal.
Back in the States, Harry and Meghan have opened their California home, which they live in with their two children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, to loved ones who have been affected by the Los Angeles wildfires. They have also been out and about helping those in need and sharing resources.
