Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s ‘Best Way Forward’ Is to Skip Prince Philip’s Memorial, Royal Commentator Says
The British royal family’s gearing up to mark the one-year anniversary of Prince Philip’s death. As with any major royal family event, there’s speculation about whether or not Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend. However, one royal expert thinks the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should skip the memorial and mark the occasion privately.
Philip’s memorial is set for spring 2022 at Westminster Abbey
The royal family will gather to remember the Duke of Edinburgh in 2022. It comes after only 30 people attended Philip’s funeral in April 2021 because of coronavirus (COVID-19) restrictions.
As royal expert Omid Scobie tweeted in December 2021, Buckingham Palace announced a memorial in Philip’s honor via royal communications.
“The queen has agreed that a Service of Thanksgiving for the life of His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh will take place in the spring of 2022 at Westminster Abbey,” the statement read. “Further details will be announced in due course.”
At the time of writing, the palace has yet to release any additional information on Philip’s memorial.
A royal commentator says Meghan and Harry should record a private video message for Philip’s memorial
Will Harry and Meghan be at Philip’s memorial? They haven’t said publicly whether or not they’ll be traveling to England from their home in Montecito, Calif., for the event.
But, according to a royal commentator, they should skip it to keep the focus on the Duke of Edinburgh. Per the U.K.’s Express, royal commentator Neil Sean took to his YouTube channel, Daily News Headlines, in January 2022 to discuss Philip’s memorial.
As he explained in a four-minute video, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in a peculiar position.
“It’s very difficult for Harry and Meghan,” he said. “Because if they do come back over here whichever way they turn all eyes will be on them. The media will want to know which family members interact, which don’t.”
“I don’t necessarily see this as a way forward,” he added.
So what does he suggest? That the parents of two — Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor became a brother upon Lilibet Diana Mountbatten-Windsor’s birth — keep their distance. He feels they should skip the memorial and mark Philip’s memorial with a video.
“Harry and Meghan could offer the opportunity of a video recorded message,” he said. “This may be played privately at a function afterward at Windsor Castle.”
“I think this will be the best way forward for the ex-royals because they know that day shouldn’t be about them,” Sean said. “It should be about remembering a wonderful man. But, more importantly, the focus should be on the queen and allowing her to remember Philip.”
Harry’s recent push for additional U.K. security could mean a family visit to England
So, are Meghan and Harry getting ready to pack their bags? Some say Harry’s call for police protection is the sign of a Sussex family trip.
In a January 2022 statement, Harry claimed insufficient security is the reason he and Meghan can’t return to the U.K. with their kids. Therefore, he wants police protection whenever they’re in the U.K. Additionally, the couple has privately-funded security.
