Inside Prince Harry’s $2K-an-Hour Luxe Suite He Chose over Staying with Family While Visiting Ailing Dad
- Prince Harry was recently in London for 24 hours.
- He went to see his ailing father months after his coronation.
- However, the Duke of Sussex did not stay at one of the royal residences, which caused a stir.
Prince Harry recently flew down to his home country following news of his father’s diagnosis. However, during his visit, he did not stay with the family.
In January 2020, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, publicly announced that they were stepping down as senior members of the Royal Family.
Prince Harry attends the Sentebale Audi Concert at Hampton Court Palace on June 11, 2019 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry pose with their newborn son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor during a photocall in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle on May 8, 2019 in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images
“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the royal couple revealed in a statement on Instagram then.
Kate Middleton, Prince William, Prince Harry, and Meghan Markle arrive to view flowers and tributes to HM Queen Elizabeth on September 10, 2022 in Windsor, England. | Source: Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex further explained that they would be stepping back from performing royal duties and working to become financially independent. They also stated they would continue to support the Queen.
However, their decision to leave the monarchy was met with disapproval from the Royal Family. In the duo’s Netflix docuseries, Prince Harry revealed that he was given five options once he met with his family about a way forward.
One of them was whether he and his wife remained senior members, and another option was to leave entirely. “I chose option three in the meeting—half in, half out. Have our jobs, but also work in support of the Queen,” he said.
Still, the Duke of Sussex, who has since moved to America with his wife, soon realized that his proposal to his family would not be up for discussion as he was instantly shut down. He recalled:
“It was terrifying to have my brother scream and shout at me, and my father say things that simply just weren’t true, and my grandmother quietly sit there and take it all in.”
Prince Harry and Prince William watch a flypast to mark the centenary of the Royal Air Force from the balcony of Buckingham Palace on July 10, 2018 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
The father of two mentioned that from the family’s perspective, his proposed goal with Markle would be viewed as an attack on the monarchy as an institution. That said, the meeting ended with no resolution, which led to animosity between Prince Harry and his loved ones.
Prince Harry arrives at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
He and his father and brother became estranged from that point out. In a January 2023 interview, the Duke expressed that he would like to reconcile with the two, saying:
“I would like to get my father back. I would like to get my brother back.”
Prince William, King Charles III and Prince Harry at the athletics at Lee Valley Track during the Invictus Games on September 11, 2014 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Prince William and Prince Harry attend the opening of the Greenhouse Sports Centre on April 26, 2018 in London, United Kingdom. | Source: Getty Images
Prince Harry’s falling out with his family has gained wide public attention. Yet royal expert Omid Scobie revealed the Duke and Duchess’s relationship with King Charles III might not be as strained as people think.
King Charles III at Ascot Racecourse on June 22, 2023 in Ascot, England. | Source: Getty Images
“There is more warmth between Harry and Meghan and Charles than other family members, and that has grown since they’ve left the country,” Scobie divulged in a November 2023 interview.
King Charles III and Prince Harry during a visit to The Nek as part of commemorations marking the 100th anniversary of the Battle of Gallipoli on April 25, 2015 in Gallipoli, Turkey. | Source: Getty Images
Recently, Buckingham Palace announced that the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer following his surgery for benign prostate enlargement in January 2024.
King Charles III and Prince Harry arrive to attend the “International Year of The Reef” 2018 meeting at Fishmongers Hall on February 14, 2018 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
In the wake of the news, Prince Harry flew from the US to the UK to see his ailing father. The royal was spotted in the back of a Range Rover that was seen entering Clarence House on February 6, 2024. He reportedly had a “brief meeting” with his parent, approximately 45 minutes.
A car carrying Prince Harry heading to Clarence House on February 6, 2024 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
King Charles III and Prince Harry attend the “Our Planet” global premiere at Natural History Museum on April 4, 2019 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Per media reports, the Duke did not stay at one of the royal residences during his 24-hour visit to the UK. A source revealed that he “spent the night at a London hotel” instead.
Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace on January 16, 2020 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
The royal stayed at an exclusive $2,000-an-hour VIP suite in Heathrow before returning to California. The hospitality company, which congratulated the Duke and Duchess on their wedding day, is reportedly the most exclusive lounge there, often used by other Royal Family members, including Prince William and Kate Middleton.
The lounge features stylish rooms with artwork. The furniture includes luxe armchairs, squishy sofas, a formal dining table, enormous TVs, and private bathrooms.
The suite includes a dedicated security lane for when guests prepare to board, and services include a private BMW that drives the travelers to their plane. First or business-class passengers are expected to fork out well over $3,000 for up to three passengers, one way.
Two black SUVs outside the Windsor Suite at Heathrow Airport on February 6, 2024 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
There are 96 staff members in the lounge, which has a private entrance, a location that Heathrow, which has publicly celebrated Queen Elizabeth II, reportedly does not disclose. World leaders and A-list celebrities often stay at the suite when traveling.
The website for the luxurious accommodation states, “Our VIP experience for the discerning traveler is the only way to travel.” Grant Harrold, who worked for the King for seven years when he was the Prince of Wales, said Prince Harry might have opted to stay in Heathrow to show his family that he could “fund himself.”
Harrold divulged that if the Duke had stayed at one of the royal residences, he would have security there. However, seeing he chose to stay at Heathrow, he needed his own security team. Harrold noted it is not a good sign that the royal stayed at a hotel instead of with family, adding there might be another unknown reason why he chose to go there.
The former royal butler further stated that if Prince Harry and Prince William’s fallout is still ongoing, then it could be that he was not given the option to stay.
Prince William and Prince Harry bow their heads during their mother’s funeral Westminster Abbey on September 6, 1997 in England. | Source: Getty Images
Prince William and Prince Harry arrive at the Canadian National Vimy Memorial on April 9, 2017 in Vimy, France. | Source: Getty Images
He claimed King Charles would have liked to have his son home for a bit longer and that it is possible the prince decided to leave shortly after meeting him to avoid further meetups.
Prince William looks on as King Charles kisses Prince Harry at Queen Elizabeth II Park on September 10, 2014 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Prince Harry visits the NHS Manchester Resilience Hub on September 4, 2017 in Manchester, England. | Source: Getty Images
Online users reacted to Prince Harry’s stay at Heathrow on the Daily Mail’s Facebook page. One individual wrote, “To all you haters of Harry FO from a veteran, he served his country, let him live his life how he wants to.”
Another said, “He has his money. If he had not eaten anything, you people were going to say because he was broke.” “After all, his grandmother’s picture is all over the currently, one person stated.
Prince Harry during the Invictus Games Dusseldorf 2023 – One Year To Go events, on September 06, 2022 in Dusseldorf, Germany. | Source: Getty Images
“Live your life and be happy Harry, and let the broke haters continue to hate,” said one user. Another commented, “You are free to use the same VIP lounge. Just pay for it.”
Following his brief stay in the UK, Prince Harry flew back to Montecito, California, where he lives with Markle and their kids Archie and Lilibet. This was not the first time the Duke of Sussex had flown in for a short visit to his home country. He did the same in May 2023 when he arrived for his father’s coronation.
Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice on March 30, 2023 in London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Upon returning to California recently, he made a surprise appearance at NFL Honors in Las Vegas to present an award for Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year to Cameron Heyward. He plays a defensive tackle for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Prince Harry presents the Walter Payton Man of the Year Award at the 13th Annual NFL Honors on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images
(L) Keegan-Michael Key pictured with Cameron Hayward (C) of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Prince Harry at the 13th Annual NFL Honors on February 8, 2024 in Las Vegas, Nevada. | Source: Getty Images
King Charles III attends the presentation of Addresses by both Houses of Parliament in Westminster Hall, inside the Palace of Westminster on September 12, 2022, central London, England. | Source: Getty Images
Although the Duke did not stay for much longer in his home country, expert Richard Fitzwilliams believes that the fact that he made an effort to go and see his father means there is hope for reconciliation. “The only way for a family to fight cancer is to come together,” he said.