THE King has been pictured riding in a tank as “disappointed” Prince Harry fired shots at the palace over an accommodation row ahead of his UK visit.
Harry, 41, is due to arrive in his home country today and was initially offered accommodation in Buckingham Palace by Charles.
Charles, 77, has engagements in London and across the country this week, and is understood to have since taken the offer of accommodation back after Harry failed to accept in time.
This morning, Harry’s team briefed he would be staying at Buckingham Palace, only for the claim to then be later denied by palace sources.
Amid security concerns raised by the Sussexes, it is understood the monarch had made a royal home available to Harry, Meghan Markle, 44, and the children.
Charles reportedly offered up space in Buckingham Palace for the family to stay in – which would have come with existing security.
Harry is understood to have spent time organising security arrangements for his family before accepting the King’s offer, after he lost a bid for official taxpayer-funded security.
A spokesperson for the Duke said once those arrangements were in place Harry reached out to accept the offer of accommodation for himself.
But a palace source said earlier this morning that the Duke had failed to accept Charles’ invitation in time, despite reports to the contrary.
Harry reportedly declared the accommodation unsuitable before officially turning down the King’s offer to house his family.
He then later requested to stay at the palace himself, without Meghan and the kids, royal sources said.
It is understood this request was declined as the provisions required to host him were no longer available after he had initially declined the offer.
A spokesperson for Harry had earlier briefed that he would be staying at the palace and said it was “disappointing” that the offer has now been withdrawn.
It is now unclear where Harry will be staying with hopes of a reunion between the royals, Charles and his grandkids seemingly dashed.
Sources said accommodation at a royal residence would be offered to Harry and his family for any future visits to the UK.
Security concerns left it unclear if Meghan, 44, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, would join Harry in the UK this week.
Harry and Meghan previously confirmed their children would not be coming to London after it was revealed the Sussexes had lost a bid for official taxpayer-funded security.
According to a source Harry was “still looking at options” to make the visit work “in some form”, with it unclear if the rest of his family will join him later in the trip.
Harry previously said it was “impossible” to bring his family to the UK and that it is “sad” that he won’t be able to show his children his homeland.
This came after he lost his lengthy High Court battle last year for taxpayer-funded armed bodyguards in the wake of Megxit.
The King was today pictured attending an engagement at the Royal Tank Regiment’s Tank Museum, carrying on with his duties amid the drama.
Charles drove an impressive looking modern battle tank, donning a commander’s helmet and shades as he rode in the fearsome machine.
He also drove an armoured vehicle previously driven by his mum nearly 30 years ago as he took part in the regiment’s families’ day celebrations.
Today, as The King continued with his royal engagements, he took the armoured Rolls Royce for a spin and met members of the public, seemingly unbothered by the confusion around Harry’s accommodation.
The vehicle he took for a spin served in the First and Second World Wars and was developed in 1914.
It is the oldest vehicle in the Tank Museum’s working fleet and previously carried Queen Elizabeth II during a visit to the museum in 1997.
Charles’ visit today marked his first trip to the Royal Tank Regiment in Bovington, Dorset, since he took over as Colonel-in-Chief in 2023.
Former Colonels-Commandant, who serve as ceremonial heads of the regiment, greeted Charles on arrival.
The King was expected to spend the day learning about the history and significance of tanks from the First World War to the modern day.
Later Charles was due to present medals to soldiers and meet with their friends and families at the regiment’s annual families’ day.