Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception for young people at the Palace of Holyroodhouse(Image: Getty Images)The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were notably absent from King Charles’ recent birthday celebrations, showing the widening gap between Prince Harry and the Royal family.
During Trooping the Colour – the official celebration of the monarch’s birthday – King Charles reveled with his immediate family, including Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, but Harry and his family were nowhere in sight.
After his High Court loss in May, 40-year-old Duke of Sussex was optimistic about mending fences with his father, but stated that it wouldn’t be feasible until he could ensure the safety of his wife and children while in the UK.
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Now, a Royal expert suggests that the likelihood of Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, becoming frequent visitors to the UK and forming close bonds with their cousins seems increasingly doubtful due to Harry and his wife Meghan Markle’s safety concerns.
“Meghan understandably feels apprehensive about coming to the UK with the children,” says former Royal editor Duncan Larcombe. “The threats are real and genuine. The danger comes from crazed individuals, radical protesters who might want to make a name for themselves by confronting them.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a naming and unveiling ceremony for the new Royal Flying Doctor Service in Dubbo Australia(Image: Getty Images)“Then, of course, you have the worst kind, the terrorist threat. And there’s no doubt that Harry – and his family, as a result – is a prime target.”
Meghan, 43, is increasingly open to sharing her family life publicly – from a viral Baby Momma dance video to sharing Disneyland vacation snaps on social media, but rumors of a UK return remain in question. A Mirror source suggests that the mother-of-two feels more empowered but remains seriously concerned about her children’s safety.
“In some ways she’s feeling stronger and she wants to share that,” said a source. “But she’s still terrified of putting her kids at risk by coming back to the UK – any parent would panic if they were in Meghan’s shoes.”
The source added: “So even though Harry is really feeling the absence of his dad, especially after Trooping the Colour and Father’s Day, the security stuff will probably always be an issue.
“He knows that things could’ve been so different if things had gone another way, but it’s been five years since they left the UK and the chances of them coming back, even for a visit, seem slim to none. It’s heartbreaking.”
During his revealing BBC interview in May, Harry mentioned his desire for a family reconciliation. An expert believes the Prince might regret how recent events have unfolded.
“Harry is a sensitive soul and always wore his heart on his sleeve, so whether he’d admit it publicly or not, I’m sure he’s full of regrets and wishes he’d done things differently,” Duncan opines.
With Trooping the Colour and Father’s Day coinciding, it was inevitable that he would reflect on the once joyful relationships he had with his brother and father, and undoubtedly, he yearns to mend those bonds.
Last month, Harry failed in his attempt to reverse the decision denying him and his family state-funded, high-level security typically provided for senior royals while in the UK. Consequently, he expressed that he “couldn’t see a world” where he could bring Meghan and their children back to his native land.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle watch a performance by a Welsh choir(Image: Getty Images)Duncan suggests that the tragic death of Harry’s mother, Princess Diana, likely looms large in the couple’s minds when considering their safety, as the lack of official Metropolitan Police protection was a “contributing factor” in the accident that claimed her life.
However, he emphasizes that the couple’s popularity, or lack thereof, has no bearing on their safety. The crucial difference, he points out, lies between official Royal security and private protection, which could potentially be a matter of life and death.
Official Royal security provides royals with 24/7 armed protection from top Met Police officers and enables MI5 to “surround them in a ring” of high-level intelligence. Duncan suggests that Meghan’s desire to safeguard her children would make it challenging for the family to feel secure without proper measures.
“At big Royal events, the security you actually see is the tip of the iceberg. There are a lot of undercover officers and agents working, too,” he explains. “Without the official support and security, Harry and Meghan are left with two or three bodyguards who are pretty blind to what the potential threats are.”