Prince Harry continues to spark criticism over his scheduled return to the UK.
The Duke of Sussex, his wife, and their two children are expected to make a grand comeback to Britain, their first since they last appeared as a family in 2022.
King Charles accommodated the Sussexes by offering them a royal lodge. However, Prince Harry allegedly planned on using the olive branch to secure his family’s return to taxpayer-funded security.
Prince Harry Allegedly Scheming To Obtain Taxpayer-Funded Security For His Family
The father of two has faced a new wave of allegations over his reluctance to accept the Royal Family’s lodging offer. Royal expert Richard Eden weighed in on the situation, calling out Harry for scheming his way back into taxpayer-funded security.
The Sussexes allegedly refused to accept the royal lodge offer unless they were provided round-the-clock security. Eden argued that they were trying to set a precedent where the Sussexes must be given police protection whenever they stay with the Royal Family.
“To me this seems a bit of a trap,” Eden said on the latest episode of The Daily Mail’s “Palace Confidential” shared on YouTube. He noted that the Sussexes were trying to put King Charles and the government in a position where they can be guaranteed taxpayer-funded security every time they travel. In his words:
“In future they can say ‘This is what we expect every time and indeed if we get it in Britain we should get that in America as well.’ So there’s a lot of manipulation going on, and it’s all quite unedifying.”
The Royal Expert Accused The Sussexes Of ‘Using Their Children’
Eden called out Harry and Meghan for trying to manipulate the government by tugging on the King’s heartstrings. Their return to the UK has been painted as an opportunity to introduce their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, to the wider Royal Family.
On that note, the couple allegedly said they would stay in the royal lodge provided by the King only “if each time they leave with their children, they are guaranteed security.” Eden suspected they were trying to have their way by using their children, saying:
“It does seem that they are using the children to put pressure on the King and for me, that’s really unedifying, I don’t like it at all.”
The ‘Spare’ Author Is Reportedly Reconsidering Bringing His Kids To The UK
Eden’s words follow recent reports of Harry’s change of heart about his upcoming visit. He was reportedly reconsidering bringing Archie and Lilibet to the UK because police protection had not been granted, with a spokesperson for the Duke echoing similar sentiments.
According to the spokesperson, Harry had yet to accept the King’s offer of accommodation on a royal estate because the issue was never about where the Sussexes would stay during their visit. They claimed the former working royal has only ever been concerned about whether there would be appropriate security throughout the visit.
The spokesperson noted in a statement to PEOPLE that Harry wasn’t letting the lack of taxpayer-funded security hinder his plans. “The Duke continues to explore every available option to enable the visit to proceed safely and to give his children the opportunity to enjoy the U.K.,” they claimed.
The Former Working Royal Was Allegedly ‘Distraught’ By The Security News
According to a source, the Sussexes were informed on Friday, June 26, that they would be provided police protection on royal property but not elsewhere during their visit. The news reportedly arrived hours after they publicly confirmed their plan to travel to the UK with their kids.
The Blast covered claims of Harry’s reaction to the news, with sources noting he had been excited about his children finally meeting their grandfather after years apart. However, that happiness was replaced by feelings of “distraught” following the lack of round-the-clock security.
One source claimed the news ruined Harry’s plans for his family “at the 11th hour,” noting he wanted his children to visit family, friends, and participate in charitable causes close to his heart. Nonetheless, they added that the Duke would do everything in his power to ensure their safety.
Prince Harry Slammed For ‘Tiresome’ Security Drama
Surprisingly, Harry wasn’t the only one feeling unhappy about his lack of round-the-clock security. The Blast recently reported that sources claimed Buckingham Palace was equally fed up with having to butt heads with the Sussexes over their demands for taxpayer-funded security.
The Palace was allegedly displeased because Harry had turned his visit into another PR nightmare. The source explained that “for the sake of family harmony,” the Sussexes would have been warmly welcomed if they had approached their visit in “a peaceful and low-key” manner.
Unfortunately, they turned their visit “into a soap opera,” which the Palace found “tiresome.” The taxpayer-funded security has been a cause of tension between Harry and the Royal Family after his round-the-clock protection was reduced to a “case-by-case” basis in 2020.