Prince Harry and Meghan Markle may finally be realising the public mood in Britain is against them, as their planned visit to the UK descends into another security row. The couple had been expected to travel to Britain with their children, Archie and Lilibet, for a visit that would have included a meeting with King Charles III. However, the trip was thrown into doubt after Harry's request for police protection outside royal residences was declined by the government.
Security Row Escalates
According to royal commentator Virginia Blackburn, writing for the Daily Express, the couple may be using their children as leverage to secure the security they want. "From where I’m sitting, despite all the self-righteous bleating, it looks like they’re using their children to try to get what they want," Blackburn wrote. She noted that the entire Sussex clan was due to visit, with an invitation to stay at a royal residence and a meeting with the King, who has only met his Sussex granddaughter once. Then, according to Harry, the visit was "pulled from under their feet at the 11th hour" when the government declined his security request.
However, Blackburn pointed out that Harry already knew he was not entitled to such protection, having fought and lost the issue in court. "Essentially, what this boils down to is that Harry, and more likely Meghan, were trying to strongarm the government into giving them the protection that is not rightly theirs," she wrote.
Public Sentiment Turns Against Sussexes
The commentary suggests that the couple may be out of touch with public opinion in the UK. "The two of them have behaved abominably, not just towards their family, but this country. We welcomed Meghan with open arms only to get it all thrown back in our faces," Blackburn wrote. She added that perhaps Harry is beginning to recognise this, and that the couple may realise they will not be greeted by cheers, but boos.
In contrast, the Princess of Wales has been winning public admiration for her charitable work, including completing the Three Peaks challenge. Blackburn contrasted this with Meghan, who she described as "scheming in her Montecito spider’s web, trying to use the status of the family she married into and claims mistreated her, in order to (unsuccessfully) flog a few pots of jam."
Children Caught in the Middle
Blackburn questioned what the children must think, having been told they were due to visit the UK and see their grandfather, the King. She concluded with a stark message: "We don’t want you here. Stay away."
The ongoing saga highlights the deep rift between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, as well as the British public. It remains unclear whether the visit will go ahead, but the couple's demands for security have once again put them at odds with the government and the monarchy.
