Prince Harry is expected to return to London next week without Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet after the family dropped plans to join him in the capital over security concerns.
Harry’s spokesperson confirmed the London change to Reuters, saying Meghan and the children will not travel with him to London. A visit elsewhere in Britain, including Birmingham, has not been ruled out.
People said Harry and Meghan had hoped to bring Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, back to Britain for the first time since 2022. The trip would have given the children another chance to spend time in the country where Harry grew up.
Harry is still due in Britain for charity engagements and events connected to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. The London part of the trip is now expected to be a solo appearance.
Harry Will Make the London Stop Alone
Prince Harry to Travel to London Without Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet https://t.co/MY6zk9ONdh
— People (@people) July 4, 2026
The Duke of Sussex is scheduled for engagements in London and Birmingham during the week of July 6. Meghan, Archie and Lilibet had been expected to travel with him before the London plans were dropped.
Sky News said it is not yet known whether Meghan and the children will join Harry for any visits outside London. The outlet said Harry had intended to bring his family for an event marking one year until the Invictus Games in Birmingham.
The Independent said Meghan had been expected to join Harry at an Invictus Games engagement and a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea. Harry is now expected to attend the London hospital engagement without her.
The Security Dispute Changed the London Plans
The London change followed a dispute over police protection. Reuters cited The Telegraph’s account that the plan changed after a request for police protection was denied.
People said the issue was whether “appropriate and proportionate protective security” would be provided for the full visit. King Charles had offered accommodations on a royal estate, but security arrangements would not extend beyond the property.
Harry lost automatic taxpayer-funded police protection after stepping back from royal duties in 2020. He has repeatedly said he does not feel it is safe to bring Meghan and the children to Britain without that protection.
A Birmingham Appearance Has Not Been Ruled Out
Meghan and the children could still join Harry elsewhere in Britain. Birmingham remains the main unresolved stop because the city will host the 2027 Invictus Games, and Harry is expected to attend events for the one-year countdown.
Harry founded the Invictus Games for wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans. His U.K. schedule also includes engagements connected to WellChild and Scotty’s Little Soldiers, two charities with long-standing links to the duke.
Any Birmingham appearance by Meghan, Archie and Lilibet would be separate from the London leg, where Harry is now expected to appear without them.
Archie and Lilibet Last Visited Britain in 2022
Archie was born in the U.K. in 2019, before Harry and Meghan stepped back from royal duties and moved to California. Lilibet was born in 2021 after the move.
The children last visited Britain in 2022 for Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Lilibet’s first birthday was marked at Frogmore Cottage during that trip.
Harry told the BBC in 2025 that he could not see “a world” where he would bring Meghan and the children back to the U.K. “at this point” after losing his legal appeal over automatic police protection. He also said his children would miss “everything” about the country.
The Trip Comes During an Invictus and Legal Week
Harry’s return is tied to the Invictus Games countdown in Birmingham, but the visit also overlaps with a court ruling in his privacy claim against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail.
The duke has pursued several legal cases against British media organizations in recent years. The Associated Newspapers ruling is expected while he is in Britain for charity and Invictus-related engagements.