Meghan and children will not join Prince Harry in London

Prince Harry's wife Meghan and ​their two children will not travel to London with him next week, his spokesperson ‌said on Saturday, although a visit elsewhere in Britain had not been ruled out.

Harry, the younger son of King Charles, is due in London and Birmingham next week for a series of charity engagements and events promoting the ​2027 Invictus Games.

Meghan, Archie, 7, and Lilibet, 5, were expected to travel with the ​prince, but his spokesperson said they had now dropped plans to travel to London. ⁠

The Telegraph newspaper reported that the decision was taken after a request for police protection was denied.

The ​spokesperson added, however, that the family had not ruled out travelling elsewhere in Britain, including to ​Birmingham, where Harry is due to promote the 2027 Invictus Games.

Harry has repeatedly expressed a desire to bring his children to Britain, which they have not visited for several years, but has said concerns ​about security have complicated those plans.

 "The Duke continues to explore every available option to enable the ​visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the UK," his spokesperson said earlier ‌this ⁠week.

 The prince has long argued that security concerns put his family at risk when visiting Britain.

Last year he lost a legal challenge against a government decision to remove the automatic police protection afforded to him after he stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States with ​Meghan.

The planned visit had ​raised the prospect of ⁠a rare meeting between Archie and Lilibet and their grandfather, King Charles, who has seen little of the children in recent years as relations ​between Harry and the royal family remain strained.

 -Reuters