Prince Harry excluded journalists from his London appearance on Wednesday, leaving many puzzled by the decision.
The Duke of Sussex, who touched down in Britain on Monday, visited the Royal Hospital Chelsea on Wednesday – home to the renowned Chelsea Pensioners, all veterans of the British Army. Unlike his other UK appearances, where press representatives have been permitted, this engagement was different.
The duke conducted his visit – which occurred one day after learning he had lost his legal battle against the publishers of The Daily Mail – behind closed doors, preventing media attendance. This came despite the media arrangements having already been put in place.
With the arrangements being altered just one day beforehand, Harry’s representatives stated that the choice was made because of Britain’s ongoing heatwave.
His representatives indicated that a public portion of the engagement was removed from the schedule due to extreme temperatures and the constraints of the historic site’s aging infrastructure, reports the Express.
The duke has been spotted in Britain this week (Image: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
It is understood that journalists will continue to have access for the duke’s remaining UK appearances.
Harry’s trip to Royal Hospital Chelsea was undertaken alone, with his wife Meghan Markle initially anticipated to accompany him.
The arrangements shifted, however, after Harry learned he would not receive government-funded protection in the UK.
As a result, his wife, Meghan, and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, did not travel to the UK with Harry on Monday. The duke has previously stated that he considers the UK too dangerous for his family to visit without the protection of armed police officers.
It remains a possibility that Meghan and the children could join Harry in the UK at some point during his visit.