Prince Harry wanted to bring his family to the UK (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry is set to visit the UK in July in a highly anticipated trip. The prince was expected to bring his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet, but now, fears over a lack of security could see their plans change.
It has now been claimed that a select few people were included in a secret WhatsApp group created by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s Director of Communications, Liam Maguire. Members of the group would allegedly learn the latest news from the couple before anyone else. This week, in the WhatsApp group chat, members all received a long message confirming details of Prince Harry and Meghan’s return visit to Britain next week.
Meghan Markle could join Prince Harry on the trip (Image: Getty)
Writing for the Daily Mail, Richard Eden, said the long “operational note” informed journalists exactly what the couple would be doing after they land in the UK.
But, despite the note confirming the couple would be staying at a royal residence and that their two children would be attending with them, plans soon changed.
The plans were seemingly changed when it was reported that Harry’s demand for automatic, taxpayer-funded police protection had been rejected by the Home Office.
Mr Eden wrote: “Spare a thought for the BBC’s poor viewers and website users! Less than 24 hours after they had been informed, with all the authority that the Corporation could muster, that something was going to happen, they were now being told that it might not happen at all.”
He added: “The reporters should be forgiven. As royal correspondents, they are used to receiving briefing notes that help them cover events. The palace notes are usually factual, so the journalists might have expected Harry and Meghan’s messages to be equally trustworthy.
“Fat chance. What makes it worse is that nothing actually changed between Friday and Saturday.”
A spokesperson for the duke said he was still exploring every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK.
Prince Harry has raised concerns over his security (Image: Getty)
The trip will mark one year to the start of the Invictus Games, which will be held in Birmingham in 2027.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle moved to Montecito, California, after stepping down from their working royal roles.
After the move, Prince Harry‘s security arrangements changed, and he has faced ongoing difficulties ever since.
In February 2020, the Home Office decided he would no longer receive automatic police protection on the same terms as a working royal, with security instead assessed case by case.
Harry later challenged that decision in court and lost a High Court case in 2024, before going on to appeal.
The couple plan to spend five days in the UK, from July 7 to July 11.