Prince Harry reportedly declined King Charles's offer to stay at a royal residence during his recent visit to the UK.
This decision was driven by concerns over security arrangements and a lack of privacy, as the property in question lacked proper police protection and had open entry and exit points. Instead of accepting the invitation, Harry chose to stay at a hotel, consequently missing an opportunity to reunite with the King, who is currently undergoing cancer treatment. Prince Harry's team quickly issued a statement suggesting that his father was too preoccupied to meet him.
However, former BBC royal correspondent Jenny Bond dismissed Harry's justification as implausible. She stated, "I find it very hard to buy the argument that Harry would feel unsafe in a royal residence. They are heavily guarded, as you'd expect, and there are usually several ways of getting in and out of palaces and castles, so he wouldn't necessarily have to be seen. It does rather sound to me like Harry's trying to make himself into a victim once again, especially since we are told the offer was there for him to stay in a royal residence."
Sources indicated that Harry could have stayed at St. James's Palace, which is minutes from where the monarch is based. Despite this, Harry opted to stay at a Mayfair hotel, foregoing the protection offered by the central London compound. Palace expert Richard Eden criticized the decision on The Daily Mail's Palace Confidential podcast, saying, "We have Hollywood royalty like Michael Douglas and Catherine Zeta-Jones who have a flat at St. James's Palace. It's good enough for Hollywood royalty but not good enough for this minor royal in California."
Eden added that Michael Douglas might find Harry's decision amusing, considering Douglas's long-standing presence in the entertainment industry and his familiarity with high-profile events. Douglas, known for his wit and charm, might see the situation as emblematic of the complexities surrounding royal engagements and familial dynamics, perhaps finding irony in the fact that personal preferences and security concerns can lead to unconventional decisions even within such esteemed circles.
Daily Mail's royal editor Rebecca English pointed out that Princess Beatrice lives at St. James's Palace, and Princess Anne uses it for her offices and stays there when in London. English stated, "There has never been a single concern raised about the security there."
Meanwhile, Charlotte Griffiths, The Mail on Sunday's editor-at-large, commented that Harry's decision made him look petulant and paranoid, suggesting that he needs to move past these issues. Royal broadcaster Helena Chard recently told Fox News Digital that Harry could have stayed at St. James's Palace, a stone's throw from Clarence House where the King is usually based. Chard noted that Harry turned down staying in a palace where he would have received armed security protection from the SO14 Royalty Protection Group, choosing instead to stay at a Mayfair hotel without such protection.
Chard added, "Not only would he have received armed security protection, but there was a far higher chance that he would have seen his father. It worries me that Prince Harry has deeper-rooted problems, most likely related to his mother, as his behavior seems beyond strange. However, I am aware that his behavior keeps the victim narrative alive, a narrative which he may feel serves a purpose at this time."
