Meghan and Harry Take a Family Vacation in Europe—but Everyone’s Asking the Same Question About the U.K.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are currently vacationing in Europe with their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, PEOPLE understands, ahead of the family’s planned trip to the U.K. next month.
The family getaway comes after the Duke, 41, and Duchess of Sussex, 44, confirmed on Friday, June 26, that they intend to travel to Britain with their children in July for a series of engagements surrounding the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham.
While Harry and Meghan have planned public appearances, Archie and Lilibet are not expected to attend any public engagements.
On Saturday, The Telegraph reported that Harry is reconsidering the visit after learning that his request for taxpayer-funded police protection has been denied. PEOPLE understands, however, that the details shared by the Sussexes on Friday remain unchanged.
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Meghan Markle/Instagram
Security continues to be a central concern for the Duke of Sussex. A source notes that the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) has yet to carry out a long-awaited Risk Management Board review of Harry’s security arrangements.
The Duke has previously said he “can’t see a world” in which he would bring his family back to the U.K. without adequate protection.
Next month’s trip to the U.K. would mark the first time that Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, have been in the country since they visited to celebrate the Platinum Jubilee of the late Queen Elizabeth in 2022.
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Prince Harry has long been candid that he believes Meghan and their children could face security concerns in the U.K. after losing their taxpayer-funded police protection in 2020. The family will not receive taxpayer-funded protection while in the U.K., other than when they are within royal residences.
Buckingham Palace revealed on June 19 that King Charles has offered Harry and his family accommodation on a royal estate during their visit, though the location has not been disclosed.
If the Sussexes stay at one of the 77-year-old monarch’s residences, they would be covered by the existing security arrangements at the property. The family plans to stay in both royal residences and private accommodation during their visit, PEOPLE understands.
Meghan Markle with her two children Archie and Lilibet in Netflix’s docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’ (2022) ; Prince Harry with his son Archie in Netflix’s docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’ (2022).
Meghan Markle with Archie and Lilibet in Netflix’s docuseries ‘Harry & Meghan’ (2022); Prince Harry with Archie in ‘Harry & Meghan’.
Netflix (2)
Harry’s trip has long been in the works, with him set to attend a series of public events marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, which will take place July 10–17, 2027.
As part of the countdown, the couple will visit Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre (NEC), the primary venue for the Games. Harry plans to watch and participate in a series of exhibition events alongside competitors from previous Invictus Games, officially launching the one-year countdown while showcasing both classic and new adaptive sports that will feature in Birmingham.
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The prince plans to attend the 14th Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice at Chatham House, while he and Meghan are also set to take part in a series of private meetings with the Invictus Games Foundation at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
Also in Birmingham, Harry is set to visit Birmingham Children’s Hospital to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the charity WellChild’s first WellChild Nurse. The Duke of Sussex is a patron of the charity.
In his role as Global Ambassador for Scotty’s Little Soldiers, a charity that supports bereaved military children and young people, Harry was also set to attend Scotty’s Summer Festival at Maxstoke Castle in Warwickshire.
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The visit, if it proceeds, could open the door to Harry’s children spending time with their grandfather, King Charles.
Since the family relocated to California in 2020, Archie is believed to have spent only a handful of occasions with the monarch, and Charles has only once met Lilibet, who is named after Queen Elizabeth’s childhood nickname.
No plans for a reunion between Harry and his father during the potential visit have been confirmed.
However, the pair met during previous U.K. trips, including in September 2025, when they reunited at the King’s London residence while Harry was in Britain for the WellChild Awards and Invictus Games events. The private meeting lasted 55 minutes and marked their first face-to-face conversation in 19 months.