The distances within the royal family continue to widen. Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle have said they will not travel to the tribute to be held in memory of his grandfather, Prince Philip, who died in April 2021. A spokesperson for the couple has said that Enrique still does not feel safe to travel and return to his native country, as they have been living in California since March 2020.
“The Duke will not be returning to the UK at the end of March (when the memorial will be held), but he hopes to visit his grandmother as soon as possible,” a spokesperson for the couple told Page Six.
The “insecurity” of the couple is due to the fact that last summer, Enrique attended a charity event in London. On that occasion, the Duke of Sussex was harassed by a group of photographers and was alerted by the royal guard that he was in danger. Therefore, for a few months, Meghan and Enrique have requested police protection in the United Kingdom, but according to British media reports, that request has been denied twice.
In the United States, Meghan and Enrique do have privacy protection, but their security team has no authority in the United Kingdom, since the couple renounced their royal titles and, therefore, lost a series of benefits.
“This claim is about the fact that the claimant does not feel safe when in the UK due to the security provisions that applied to him in June 2021 and will continue to apply if he returns,” said his lawyer Shaheed Fatima. “It goes without saying that he wants to return – to see family and friends and continue to support the charities that are so close to his heart.”
Strong Criticism
The Page Six portal assured that in the United Kingdom Enrique’s decision has been taken as a snub for Queen Elizabeth II. The criticism intensified when it was rumored that the Duke of Sussex will fly to the Netherlands to be part of the Invictus Games. “He is a kicking child,” royal biographer Angela Levin told the Daily Mail, adding that such a move amounts to “blackmail.”
According to Levin, Enrique could abandon important events at the last minute “as leverage to ensure personal protection in the United Kingdom.” “Although Harry has snubbed the Duke of Edinburgh, he is actually snubbing the Queen. It’s about ‘me, me, me,’ instead of going out of her way for his grandmother and showing her that she cares,” Levin added to the British newspaper.
Since his departure, Enrique’s family has not fully returned to the United Kingdom. The Duke of Sussex has returned home only twice and without the company of Meghan Markle or her children: Archie Harrison and Lilibet Diana.