Controversy

Prince Harry is expected to miss the funeral service for his uncle, Robert Fellowes, next week due to security protocols requiring 28 days’ advance notice for his visits to the UK.

A source revealed to the Daily Express that “Harry didn’t have plans to visit the UK this summer, so when something last-minute arises like a funeral, it becomes a very difficult situation to navigate.” 

The Home Office’s decision to downgrade his security has reportedly strained the Duke of Sussex’s relationships with friends and family in Britain. 

The source added, “Harry would like to spend more time in Britain, but it’s a logistical nightmare for his team due to ongoing security issues.” 

Despite requests for special concessions for unexpected events like a family funeral, a government spokesperson stated, “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s brief visit to Vancouver in February 2023 cost Canadian taxpayers approximately $44,000 in police overtime, according to records obtained by Daily Express. 

The couple visited Vancouver and Whistler between February 14 and 16 as part of their efforts to promote the 2025 Invictus Games, which will be held in those locations. 

While the Invictus Games covered $10,221 of the expenses, the remaining costs were borne by taxpayers. 

In an email to CTVNews.ca, a Vancouver Police Department spokesperson clarified that while they did not provide specific security for the couple, officers were stationed in the area due to ongoing protests, including rallies for Palestinian and Sikh independence. 

Doug Maynard, Director of Security for the 2025 Invictus Games, emphasised that taxpayer funds were not used directly for security during the royal visit.

Prince Harry believed that King Charles would eventually “forgive him” and make amends for the perceived hurt he has suffered, according to royal expert Tom Quinn. 

However, this expectation seems to have backfired, leaving the rift between father and son as wide as ever, with no reconciliation in sight.

Quinn, author of Scandals of the Royal Palaces: An Intimate Memoir of Royals Behaving Badly, notes that the distance persists due to differing expectations between Charles and Harry. The monarch is reportedly “filled with horror” at the possibility of Meghan Markle writing a personal memoir, with Harry potentially contributing. This comes after the publication of Harry’s book Spare in January 2023, which he revealed had much more content that had to be cut.

Charles is said to be “privately furious” over Harry’s refusal to bring his children, Archie and Lilibet, to the UK. Quinn told The Mirror: “Despite all his criticisms, Harry always assumed he would be forgiven by his father. He thought Charles would make amends for the hurt that justified the criticisms.”

In February, Harry lost his High Court challenge regarding the downgrading of his taxpayer-funded police protection and intends to appeal. Experts suggest he may travel alone to the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027.