Prince Harry and Meghan Face ‘Repercussions’ With Latest Move as They Make ‘First Steps Back Into Royal Life,’ Claims Former Palace Aide
Following their high-profile trip to Nigeria, the next country Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will tour is Colombia.
A statement by the Vice President of Colombia, Francia Márquez, read: “I am pleased to announce that Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have kindly accepted my invitation to visit our beautiful country. During their trip, the Duke and Duchess will join me in visiting Bogotá, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.”
However, one person who worked for the royal family and knows Harry thinks this must be a sign that the Sussexes want back into royal life because if not, there could be “repercussions.”
Former royal employee explains why things could get ‘very awkward’ for Meghan and Harry
Grant Harrold was King Charles’ butler from 2004 to 2011. During his time working for the now-monarch, his duties also included that of valet, housekeeper, house manager, and driver. Harrold looked after Prince William and Prince Harry whenever they stayed at Highgrove House as well.
He believes that the duke and duchess taking these trips could be a signal that they are trying to transition back to being working royals and hopes the pair spoke to the king before planning their tour to Colombia.
Speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, Harrold opined: “I think this could be one of the first steps in Meghan and Harry coming back to being working royals. It will be good to know if this has been sanctioned by the Palace or if Harry had a conversation with his father asking if he can do this. I just can’t see them doing it without some sort of approval because this would upset the monarchy if they do it off their own back and I think there could be repercussions if they haven’t been given permission by the royal household.
“If they are going to carry out a royal tour then they are acting as working royals so this could be an indication of them stepping back into royal life … That is what members of the royal family do, so the fact they are classing this as a tour is indicating this as a royal tour.”
The former butler continued: “If this hasn’t been sanctioned or approved by the king then this is very awkward because this is like anybody doing a royal tour without the backing of the royal family … This is obviously going to cause a lot of interest. The Palace will probably contact them to stress that this is a personal tour and not a royal tour. They will have to make clear that this is just them doing a tour as Harry and Meghan and not under the name of the king.”
Expert says Sussexes’ last tour really ruffled royal feathers, next one will do the same
While Harrold is beside himself thinking Meghan and Harry would actually plan these tours to different countries without speaking to the Palace first, an expert says that’s exactly what’s happening.
Royal author and commentator Tom Quinn noted that Harry did meet with injured soldiers for Invictus in Nigeria. However, the trip also included highlights for Meghan like speaking at a leadership event, proving that it was actually more like a royal tour for the two non-working royals.
Quinn told The Mirror: “Everything you might expect from an official royal visit was there — the receptions, the visits to schools and charities, to wounded soldiers and the disabled. Meghan and Harry’s speeches and their whole attitude has been designed to give the impression that they are still fully paid-up royals and [Prince] William and his father, King Charles, don’t like it one bit.”
The royal expert added when the Sussexes’ trip to Nigeria concluded King Charles was “angrier than anyone has ever seen him” and “William [was] absolutely furious … Harry and Meghan have gone rogue–their Nigeria trip [was] a bold statement that they refuse to accept they are no longer working royals.”
