Harry and Meghan’s seeming use of Archie and Lilibet as bargaining chips in security row smacks of ’emotional blackmail’, says RICHARD KAY as he muses on UK visit fast becoming a ‘real mess’

In the last part of the program Daily Mail’s Palace ConfidentialEditor-in-Chief Richard Kay claims Harry and Meghan are now considering visiting the UK without their children. He sees this as “a form of emotional blackmail” as the King wants to spend time with Archie and Lilibet.

The Sussexes are expected to arrive in the UK within days, but the trip is up in the air after Harry expressed serious concerns about the security arrangements suddenly made available to him and his family despite months of planning.

A briefing from the Sussex camp last week said the Prince was completely reconsidering the visit after it was reported that RAVEC, the Home Office committee on royal security, had refused to give him the taxpayer-funded police protection he sought for the family’s stay.

This new row comes after Harry lost his appeal at the Court of Appeal against a decision to downgrade his security after he and Meghan step back from royal duties in 2025, with judges ruling that Harry had not been unfairly treated differently.

Kay argued that this was likely a negotiation tactic by the couple, trying to force King Charles to intervene on their behalf so they could spend time with their grandchildren.

Veteran royal correspondent Kay told fellow panelist Rebecca English that the last news she heard about the trip was that Harry and Meghan were planning to come but would be leaving Archie and Lilibet behind in Montecito. He argued that this was likely a negotiation tactic by the couple, trying to force King Charles to intervene on their behalf so they could spend time with their grandchildren.

‘It appears there was some sort of emotional blackmail going on,’ Kay said. ‘They know the king wants to see his grandchildren. He hadn’t seen them much.

‘The Sussexes are seeking reconciliation with Charles in the hope that it could lead to wider reconciliation with other members of the family. However, this type of behavior does its best to prevent this from happening.

‘The last thing I heard was that they will come, but we may not be able to see the children. I think this would be a great shame. The public would definitely like to see a photograph of the King with his grandchildren. “This is a real mess.”

Royal Editor English updated viewers on another development in the security saga: a leaked document specially commissioned by Harry and his security team in the US, which claims the Prince is facing nearly a dozen serious terrorist plots, many of which are said to originate in the UK.

The document was given to RAVEC in February in the hope that it would persuade the committee to provide Harry with the level of protection the family wanted for the July trip.

According to English, the fact that this incident occurred just days before the Sussexes’ arrival strengthens the feeling that Harry and Meghan are trying to “manipulate the situation.”

English updated viewers on a development in the security saga: a leaked document specially ordered by Harry and his security team claiming the Prince was facing serious terrorist plans

English explained: ‘Two organizations that had been so positive in their coverage of Harry’s condition miraculously found themselves in possession of this safety report.

‘The fact that this was leaked just a few days before Harry’s arrival reinforces the feeling that this whole situation was designed to manipulate the situation. I’m not saying it is, I don’t know.

‘But why is he doing this now? He knew about the security situation for over a year, why did he continue planning?

‘Why is he creating drama about this now at the last minute, which is making people seriously question his motives.’

Watch Richard Kay, Richard Eden and Rebecca English try to sort through the chaos of Harry and Meghan’s upcoming trip to England by subscribing to Palace Confidential on YouTube.