Meghan Markle

July 6 (UPI) — A confusing situation played out Monday in the British royal family, as a representative for Prince Harry first said the prince had accepted an invitation to stay at the royal residence for one night — only for royal authorities to announce that he was not welcome after all.

Representatives for both Prince Harry, the duke of Sussex, and Buckingham Palace had different stories about the events leading up to the about-face, BBC News reported.

Prince Harry arrived Monday for a weeklong stay in Britain, with his family possibly arriving later this week.

The prince’s camp said Buckingham Palace withdrew an offer that had been formally accepted. The palace, however, said it offered accommodation to the prince, who did not confirm if he would accept and then declined the offer, only to change his mind later that day. By then, the palace said, it was too late to make arrangements, The Guardian reported.

Prince Harry, his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, live in California. The prince and his wife stepped back from the role of senior royals in 2020.

Tension between the prince (the younger son of King Charles III) and other members of the royal family has continued, although Harry and King Charles met last year for a conversation. This trip was expected to be the first time his children met their grandfather since 2022.

Harry is in Britain to promote various charities and the 2027 Invictus Games for injured military personnel and veterans around the world. The games are expected to take place in Birmingham, where the prince will travel later this week.

Originally, the duke of Sussex’s entire family was going to travel to both London and Birmingham, but the government declined his request for a security detail outside royal residences. Meghan and the children may meet the prince in Birmingham for the second half of the trip. It was not clear if they would meet the king.

June 18 (UPI) — Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning to visit Britain in July with their children for the start of the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games, sources say.

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are planning to bring their children, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, according to reporting by the BBC, ITV and The Telegraph.

Harry hasn’t been assured that there will be a security detail in place, and it isn’t clear if King Charles III will be able to meet the children, The Telegraph said.

The prince has said that he wants to bring Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet back to England to meet his friends and family and teach them more about British culture. The children haven’t seen their grandfather in person since they were last in England in 2022 for the late Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.

A Los Angeles business associate told The Telegraph that there was a “warming of the frost” between Harry and Charles in recent months. Harry had fallen out with his family after his memoir, Spare, made several accusations against them.

The unnamed source said, “Harry says he’s coming back before the end of the year with the children with the express intent to reunite with his dad.

“The way in which he said it seems to make it clear that he believes that this is happening and will pave the way for a longer-term peaceful relationship between them.

“He has wanted to have his kids meet their grandfather, especially after their summit in London last year.

“While there have been deep-seated trust issues around Harry, there is a sense now that all parties want peace.”

The source said that there was still distrust of Harry among the king’s friends but that Charles wants to find a way to reconcile.

Harry lost an appeal last year challenging the dismissal of his claim against the Home Office over the decision that he should have a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.

Harry and Meghan moved to Canada then California after they decided they no longer wanted to serve as senior royals.