Prince Harry accepts olive branch with unexpected move during UK visit

Prince Harry has accepted an offer to stay in Buckingham Palace during his trip to the UK this week.

As reported by Sky News, the Duke of Sussex will visit the royal residence solo and won't be accompanied by his wife, Meghan Markle, or their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, when he visits London.

The purpose of the five-day-long overseas visit is to mark the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games, which will take place in Birmingham next year.

As a reminder, Harry and Meghan resigned from their royal responsibilities and left the UK for the United States back in 2020, citing mistreatment by several senior members of the monarchy.

Since then, the Duke has insisted on several occasions that he's keen to reconcile with his family - especially his father - leaving fans with high hopes for this trip.

The Press Association has reported that while it's confirmed only Harry will be making the journey down to London, no decision has been made as to whether his wife and children will accompany him for other parts of the UK visit outside of the capital.

Prince Harry will reportedly be returning to Buckingham Palace this week (Global Images Ukraine/Getty Images)

There is hope that King Charles III will be able to reunite with his youngest grandchildren for the first time in four years.

Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, last saw their grandfather in person during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations in 2022.

The Buckingham Palace update, which means a reunion with his father is almost certainly on the cards for Harry, comes after reports last week that the Duke was still initially trying to find a way to safely bring his wife and children to the UK, amid concerns over their security and confusion over where they will stay.

As per Sky News, Charles had offered to put Harry, Meghan, and the kids up at an unnamed royal residence; however, it was reported last month that the Prince's request for taxpayer-funded police protection had recently been denied.

The Independent reports that as part of his stay, Harry will spend time on both the royal estate and private accommodation.

Meghan Markle and the couple's two young children Archie and Lilibet won't be joining Harry in London (Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Harry has faced a protracted legal battle with the Home Office over the security arrangements for him and his family when in the UK after his level of protection changed when he stepped down as a working royal in 2020.

When he lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the Home Office last year, he gave a BBC interview in which he expressed hopes of a reconciliation with his family, revealing that his dad Charles would not speak to him because of his security court case.

Harry said at the time: “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point, and the things that they’re going to miss is, well, everything you know.”