Last week, Prince Harry shared a brief statement where he announced that he would not attend his grandfather’s memorial service.
Prince Harry explained that while he cannot be present for Prince Phillip‘s service, he plans to visit Queen Elizabeth II very soon.
The Thanksgiving service for the late Duke will take place later this month.
Prince Harry’s statement read: “The Duke will not be returning to the UK in late March but hopes to visit his grandmother as soon as possible.”
Prince Harry dropped the disappointing but not very surprising news amid a bitter court battle with Queen Elizabeth’s Government over security-related issues.
Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, has decided to sue the Government over its refusal to let him have his private security while traveling to his home country with his family.
Prince Harry has previously stated that he deems it unsafe for him to bring his family to London because, as a member of the royal family who is in line to the throne, he has many threats against him.
Royal experts and aficionados were quick to share their thoughts on Prince Harry’s decision to pull out from the event.
Royal expert and GB News host Dan Wootton addressed Prince Harry’s announcement in a tweet that stated that his feud with the Government is silly and added: “Prince Harry’s silly feud with the Government over security means he won’t return to the UK for his late grandfather’s Service of Thanksgiving later this month.”
He went on to mock Prince Harry, who happily attended a rodeo in Texas while announcing that he is bailing on his aging grandmother.
The author claimed: “But he managed a jaunt to Texas for a rodeo this week. A disgraceful decision that he will end up regretting.”
Prince Harry’s decision will hit The Queen the hardest because it means that she is “unlikely” to meet Prince Harry and Markle’s only daughter, Lilibet Diana, in person.
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun Online: “I think it’s a great pity, what this means is it regrettable the rift will remain unhealed.”
Asked whether the Queen will ever meet Lilibet, Fitzwilliams added: “It’s increasingly unlikely.”
Royal biographer Angela Levin shared her two cents with The Sun by saying: “He has snubbed the Duke of Edinburgh, but really he is snubbing the Queen. He has got this all wrong. If he comes over for a royal event, he gets police protection. What they won’t do is, if he goes out with his friends, he gets security.”
While Prince Harry will be absent from the service, it is believed that Queen Elizabeth II will be accompanied by Prince Charles, Prince William, and other members of the royal family.
However, there are reports claiming that Her Majesty, 95, who recently battled COVID-19, has issues with mobility and might not be present at the event on March 29th.
