Buckingham closes its doors to Prince Harry amid judicial escalation

Buckingham Palace has announced that Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, will not be allowed to stay at any of the royal residences during his upcoming visit to the United Kingdom, in a move that seemed akin to a clear political message that reignites tensions within the royal family and puts the prince's visit at the center of a widening judicial and security debate.

The decision comes as Harry prepares to take part in charity events linked to the Invictus Games in London and Birmingham, but the preparations have been overshadowed by a sharp disagreement with the British government over security arrangements for him and his family, leaving the visit in a tense context from the outset.

Fast contrast in narratives within hours

British media outlets, including the BBC, reported  on Monday that the  prince had accepted an invitation to stay at Buckingham Palace, before a quick official denial was issued by the royal palace.

In just 15 minutes, the situation changed again, with the palace announcing that the prince would not be a guest at any royal residence, in a scene that reflects internal confusion and a high degree of sensitivity in dealing with Harry's file, as if the royal establishment is acting under political and legal pressure that allows no margin for error.

Withdrawn call and conflicting justifications

 The Duke of Sussex's response came through a spokesman, who confirmed that the royal residency offer had been "withdrawn at the last minute" and linked it to an upcoming court ruling in a case against the Associated Newspapers company.

The spokesman described the decision as "disappointing", noting that the palace had been informed in advance of the date of the verdict, raising questions about the reason for the sudden retraction, and whether it was related to sensitive legal calculations or fears of possible media repercussions.

The palace justified the move by requiring careful logistical and security arrangements, stressing that it had tried to facilitate the prince's stay but did not receive sufficient advance notice.

The visit comes as the prince prepares to attend an important court hearing in a case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, which puts it surrounded by legal and media dimensions that increase tension and put every step under the microscope.

What is ANL's case?

Prince Harry's case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) is one of Britain's most prominent privacy battles in recent decades, with the Duke of Sussex accusing the publisher of using illegal espionage methods to gather personal information about him and his surroundings, and publish it through the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.

Harry's lawsuit is based on serious charges including hacking phones, hacking voicemail, planting eavesdropping devices inside homes and cars, impersonating medical and financial records, and hiring private investigators to track his past movements and romantic relationships. The prince says these practices have caused him years of paranoia and suspicion within his inner circle and have directly affected his personal life.

  The case, which lasted 11 weeks at the High Court in London, is one of the most expensive in the history of the British judiciary, with a legal budget exceeding £38 million, and a  number of celebrities, including Elton John and his wife David Furnish, and actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, are involved in the lawsuit, reflecting the extent of anger over practices believed to have lasted for decades.

ANL denies  all the accusations, calling them "baseless defamation," asserting that its journalists relied on legitimate sources and that the celebrity's claims lack physical evidence.