Buckingham Palace has stated that Prince Harry will not be staying at a royal residence during his current visit to London, despite his team having previously announced he would accept an invitation to do so. Royal sources indicated that the Duke of Sussex did not respond in time to an offer of accommodation, and he was informed on Saturday evening that he could not stay.

A spokesperson for Prince Harry acknowledged that the offer to stay at the palace had been withdrawn, a decision they characterized as disappointing. This situation marks a difficult start to the duke's week in the UK, where he is scheduled to support his charitable causes.

According to Buckingham Palace's account, an offer of accommodation was extended to Prince Harry. However, the Sussex team reportedly failed to confirm acceptance, subsequently declining the invitation on Saturday. The palace claims that later the same day, the duke's team changed their position and accepted the offer, but by then, arrangements for staffing and accommodation could not be made.

The palace further stated that Prince Harry was informed of this decision on Saturday evening and was aware of it. Concerns were also raised by the Palace regarding the optics of the duke staying at a royal residence while a court ruling on his claims against Associated Newspapers was scheduled for Tuesday. There were worries about how this might appear for King Charles, who maintains a position of neutrality, if Prince Harry were to deliver a controversial response to the high-profile legal case from the symbolic headquarters of the monarchy.

In contrast, a spokesman for the Duke of Sussex presented a different narrative, asserting that Buckingham Palace had withdrawn an offer that had already been formally accepted. The spokesman questioned the Palace's inability to accommodate a single person for one night, suggesting the issue was not logistical.

The Sussex team's version of events also rejected the timing of the court case result as a factor in the accommodation decision, noting that the date of the ruling was known the previous week. The spokesman questioned why the offer was withdrawn at the last moment after formal acceptance.

This exchange highlights a significant level of distrust and poor communication between the Duke of Sussex's team and Buckingham Palace. Both sides are presenting conflicting accounts of the invitation and its withdrawal, with neither side appearing to concede the other's version of events.

The ongoing disagreement could complicate any potential meeting between Prince Harry and his father, King Charles, which had been anticipated during the duke's visit. Prince Harry is still proceeding with his planned engagements, which include an event in London on Tuesday.