Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan are welcomed by fans at the Sydney Opera House
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex received a warm welcome on arrival at Sydney Harbour, as they prepared to embark on a boat tour with Invictus Australia.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan have accepted an invitation from King Charles III to stay at least partially at the royal residence during their upcoming visit to the UK.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, and the Duchess of Sussex, 44, will return to the United Kingdom as a married couple for the first time in four years and will stay in a combination of royal residences and private accommodation, a representative for the couple confirmed in a news release shared with USA TODAY.
No additional information was provided regarding where he would stay during the trip, which is scheduled to run from July 7th to July 11th.
Representatives for Sussex declined to comment on whether the couple planned to meet Charles III or other members of the royal family. USA TODAY has reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.
The couple will bring their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, on their upcoming visit, but they will not be seen in public.
Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan last visited the UK together in September 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, which marked the end of her 70-year reign.
The couple stepped down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 in a move widely referred to as “Megxit,” a play on Brexit. They currently live in California with their two children.
Why didn’t Prince Harry return sooner?
Prince Harry previously said he was unable to bring Meghan and her children back to the UK due to concerns for their family’s safety, citing a loss of taxpayer security after stepping down from royal duties in 2020.
In May 2025, he lost an appeal in a British court over the level of security he and his family were entitled to while in the UK, leaving it unclear what safety measures the Sussexes would take during future visits.
Suxxex representatives said the Risk Management Committee said the couple’s visit had not been carried out, “despite assurances” from the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royals and Celebrities that it would take place by March and with six months’ notice.
“In accordance with RAVEC’s unique terms of reference and good governance, RMB audits should be conducted at least annually. Duke’s last RMB transaction was almost seven years ago,” Sakssex representatives said in a news release.
The couple stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to California. By February 2021, a review of the Withdrawal Agreement was completed and he officially relinquished his royal patronage and honorary military appointments.
Prince Harry also gave up his patronage of the Rugby Football Union and Rugby Football League, while Meghan also gave up her patronage of the Royal National Theatre, which she inherited from her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.
Since Megxit, the pair have launched various business ventures, including joint media company Archewell Productions and the duchess’ lifestyle brand As Ever.
Contributor: Jennifer Hassan, USA TODAY
