The Prince and Princess of Wales made a secret trip to India without any security, a charity co-founder in New Delhi has revealed. During Prince William and Kate’s visit to India in 2016 they conducted a charity visit to a centre which cares for the needs of vulnerable children.
It comes after Prince Harry recently complained to the BBC about his security arrangements in Britain, stating: “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.” Sanjoy Roy, the co-founder of the Salaam Baalak Trust centre at New Delhi railway station in India, has opened up about William and Kate’s visit.
The Duke of Sussex’s stance on security contrasts sharply with his brother’s approach.
Mr Roy explained royal representatives contacted him saying: “They’re happy to come without security.”
“I tried to dissuade them, saying, ‘No can do – it’s too dangerous. Just don’t come.’ But Will and Kate said, ‘No, we really want to,'” Mr Roy was speaking to guests at a Jaipur Literature Festival London reception at the British Library.
The co-founder of the centre explained what happened when Tony and Cherie Blair visited with press involvement. He said: “It was just a circus. I didn’t want a circus for the kids. The Press came. It was just not nice.”
Contrasting the visit with the royals, he explained: “But here, William and Catherine, they were so wonderfully respectful.”
The children at the centre are largely victims of physical and sexual violence, as well as trafficking and gang exploitation. Their decision to shed security at the railway station centre demonstrated a commitment to connecting directly with those in need.
Over the years, Prince Harry has repeatedly voiced his concern about the worries he has for his children and family visiting the UK.
He suffered a devastating blow earlier this year when he lost a legal challenge over his security in the UK Court of Appeal. After the court ruling, the prince said: “I can’t see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point.”
Speaking to BBC America at the time, the prince added: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious.” He also said the dispute over his security had “always been the sticking point”.
In a rare response Buckingham Palace issued their own statement following Harry’s interview: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”