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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced a lot of criticism over skipping Prince Philip’s memorial service. One royal expert said the Sussexes’ latest move provides a “clear” message to Brits that “they don’t much care what people here think.”

Meghan Markle wears a white coat and jeans and smiles at Prince Harry, wearing khaki pants and a dark half-zip top at the Invictus Games
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry | Samir Hussein/WireImage

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were criticized for going to Invictus Games but skipping memorial service

Prince Harry and Meghan attended the Invictus Games this month but skipped Prince Philip’s memorial, citing security concerns. While they were able to visit Queen Elizabeth on their way to the games, they’ve been criticized for missing out on Prince Philip’s memorial service.

Richard Fitzwilliams shared some thoughts about the matter with Express, noting that Harry and Meghan’s move to attend the Invictus Games sends a “clear” message to Britain.

“The way he [Harry] has handled things — of course, he has this case against the government on security issues here — but I think it’s extraordinary that neither he nor Meghan attended the Thanksgiving service for his grandfather, of whom he was very fond,” Fitzwilliams said.

The expert added, “I think it sent a message to Britain, which has been clear for a long time, that they don’t much care what people here think.”

Prince William made a comment about wanting to protect the queen

During a Today interview that aired April 20, Hoda Kotb asked Prince Harry about his recent visit with the queen.

Harry wasn’t too specific about the tea time with his grandmother, but did note, “Being with her, it was great. It was just so nice to see her. She’s on great form. She’s always got a great sense of humor with me.”

“It was really nice to catch up with her,” Prince Harry shared.

He also mentioned wanting to protect his grandmother. “I’m just making sure that she’s, you know, protected and got the right people around her,” he said.

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Royal experts called Prince Harry’s claim about the queen ‘sinister’ and ‘a gross insult’

Many royal experts found fault with Harry’s comment, with body language expert Judi James calling it “sinister.” She explained in an article for the Mirror how Prince Harry showed a “keenness to talk, which makes his astonishing claim about the 96 year-old queen that he is ‘making sure she is protected and has the right people around her’ sound even more sinister by contrast.”

James noted, “The phrase is not delivered as a throw-away, either.”

She also wondered how Prince Harry could offer any protection from such a distance since he now lives in California. “He also reminds us that he now sees the U.S. as his home though, presumably leaving us wondering how he can possibly ‘protect’ the queen long-distance and if we should be worried about her and these ‘people around her’?” she added.

Royal expert Angela Levin took to Twitter to share her thoughts about Harry’s claim. “Harry’s comment on U.S. TV about him checking the queen is protected is a gross insult to Prince Charles and William. He’s underlined even more that he doesn’t deserve to attend the Jubilee celebrations and be on the balcony,” she tweeted.