It was the royal story that appeared to signal a thaw in one of the monarchy’s most fractured relationships.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex confirmed Prince Harry had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace during his visit to London this week.
Within minutes, however, the story had unravelled.
It’s been revealed that, despite Harry accepting the offer, Buckingham Palace no longer had a room available because the invitation had not been accepted in time and they were unable to find the staff needed to look after the prince and his family.
The extraordinary twist has raised fresh questions about communication between the Sussexes and the Royal Household.
According to reports, the timing may have been complicated by a High Court judgment due on Tuesday in Prince Harry’s legal case against the publishers of the Daily Mail. There are said to have been concerns that Harry staying at a royal residence while legal proceedings involving the King were ongoing could prove constitutionally sensitive.
The result is a difficult situation in which an invitation appears to have been made, accepted and then effectively withdrawn because accommodation was no longer available.
The Duke of Sussex is in Britain ahead of preparations for the 2027 Invictus Games, but the latest development is unlikely to ease speculation over the state of relations between Harry and the rest of the Royal Family.
