Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused by a royal expert of wanting to “provoke” a security issue at their Nottingham public appearance last week. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out together in Nottingham on Thursday for their first joint UK public appearance since relocating back to Britain in August.
The visit, which saw the couple visit numerous charities in Nottingham, was carried out as private citizens, as they are not working royals, having left that role in 2020. However, the appearance looked very much like a royal engagement, with the couple doing a royal-style public walkabout accompanied by their private security team.
Published itinerary raises questions
While similar royal engagements never publish the exact timings of where royals will be and when, Harry and Meghan took a different approach, with their movements published the day beforehand. This has raised eyebrows as to why the couple, who do not currently have taxpayer-funded security, would do this when they express concerns about their security in Britain.
In the latest episode of the Daily Mail's Palace Confidential, Royal Editor Rebecca English said she suspected it was Harry and Meghan’s team that released the itinerary of the day, with a potential motive in mind.
She said: “In light of what Harry and Meghan have said about serious concerns over their security, you have to question it. Why are they doing this?”
Motive questioned
English continued: “They clearly want the crowds there. Are they trying to provoke a situation where there is an incident by encouraging people to come down there, and then saying afterwards: 'Look, we didn't have the police, we can't handle it'?
“They are encouraging people to go down there. None of this makes sense unless, of course, you are quite suspicious of their motives.
“Why are Harry and Meghan doing it? It really does make me question their motives.”
Security battle ongoing
While Harry and Meghan do not have taxpayer-funded security at the moment, and have not done since they quit royal duty and moved to the US in 2020, it is believed to be something the couple are actively trying to get back. This is because the couple claim Britain can be unsafe for them without police protection.
It is believed a government review into whether or not they should have taxpayer-funded security is still ongoing. This review comes after the couple relocated back to the UK in the summer.
Harry has, over the years, tried to fight for the family’s security to be reinstated, and has lost court battles over this. He used to claim that he felt his home country was too unsafe for his wife and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to even visit. The Daily Express has contacted Harry and Meghan’s team for comment.
