Meghan’s ‘blunder Down Under’ could cost Harry dearly this summer | Royal | News
Prince Harry hopes to bring his family to the UK this summer for the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham, but whether he can do so depends on a security review that could be complicated by Meghan’s business activities in Australia.
Harry is understood to be keen to make the visit a family affair and has brought along his wife Meghan Markle and their children Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four. He’s even said to be hoping to take the youngsters to Sandringham for some family time with King Charles. But he has repeatedly insisted it is not safe to bring his family to the UK unless he has fully armed police protection, and that decision is still pending.
Harry is currently appealing a High Court decision that backed the Home Office’s decision to drop his protection. RAVEC (Royal and VIP Executive Committee) concluded that, as a working royal, automatic 24-hour Metropolitan Police protection was no longer appropriate given that she was living in the US and was no longer on the royal payroll.
Harry argues that as the King’s son, complete security is his birthright and that the threat to him and his family requires nothing less.
How the Australia tour complicated things for Meghan and Harry
Hello!, The Duke and Duchess’ recent royal-like tour of Australia has muddied the waters quite a bit. Meghan announced a partnership with AI-driven shopping platform OneOff to advertise the clothes she wore during the visit and get a cut of all sales.
These included a dress worn at a homeless shelter and the outfit she wore to meet survivors of the bondi beach terror attack last year; this outfit was later quietly removed from the platform following a wave of criticism.
The question now at the Home Office is: If Harry regains taxpayer-funded security for himself and his family and the couple later visit the UK for charity work, will Meghan use these appearances as commercial opportunities, as she did in Australia?
If it does so, critics will rightly question whether the public should be footing the bill for security during ventures that actually make money.
Where does Meghan’s income come from now?
This was the kind of complication the late Queen tried to avoid when she told Harry in 2020 that there could be no “half in, half out” arrangement for working members of the royal family. He realized that the Sussexes’ plan to maintain financial independence while continuing their charitable work was fraught with difficulties and concluded that it was simply not possible.
Harry and Meghan are no longer on the royal payroll and must fund their own lifestyles, including significant security costs. After lucrative deals with Netflix and Spotify ended, Meghan is now launching her own lifestyle brand, As Ever. Monetizing your wardrobe can provide a valuable additional income stream.
But with the final safety decision still unresolved, some will see the decision to cash in on his Australian appearance as a costly miscalculation, a mistake made Down Under at the worst possible moment.
