The Duke of Sussex has alleged that a committee said Meghan Markle “should not receive protection” upon joining the Royal Family. Harry made the allegation in a letter shared on the website, Sussex.com, which he shares with his wife, on May 2.
Last week, a UK judge dismissed Harry’s legal appeal to re-examine the downgraded security received since he and his family stepped back from royal roles in 2020, and following the outcome, Harry disheartenedly expressed his opinions during an interview with BBC in America. In the letter uploaded, Harry described his legal appeal as a “last resort” and called the Royal Household a “key decision maker” in RAVEC, the government’s Royal and VIP Executive Committee responsible for his security arrangements.
In an intense allegation, Harry said that RAVEC did not want to protect Meghan until he stepped in.
Harry writes: “In November 2017, before the Royal Household’s role on RAVEC was known, this secretive committee concluded that when my wife would join the royal family, she should not receive protection. Only when I asked for the name of the person willing to carry that risk did they reverse the decision.”
After quitting their roles as senior working royals in January 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced the seismic decision that they were stepping back as senior working royals, and later settled in Meghan’s home state of California, now with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
When Harry stepped back from royal life in 2020, his security was downgraded. It means he must give notice of UK visits so his security needs can be assessed each time.
Last week, shortly after the UK judge dismissed Harry’s plea for restoration of state-funded security, the BBC released an interview with the Duke where he said he was “devastated” with the situation and wished for “reconciliation” with his family and dad, King Charles.
In an emotional statement, he also said he does not know how long the King has left to live as he continues his treatment for cancer.
Harry’s interview came just days before the nation joined in a show of unity to commemorate VE Day. It comes as a body language expert believes King Charles, alongside the rest of the Royal Family, sent a key message to Harry through signalling.
On May 5, the King and Queen, were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. Also supporting the monarch was Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh alongside Princess Anne and her husband, Timothy Laurence, and finally the Duke of Kent.
According to body language expert Judi James, the balcony appearance symbolised the royals’ resilience. As reported in the Mirror, Ms James said: “Royal balcony moments always show the Firm at their highest status best, standing in a position of ultimate power as a strong family unit while looking down on the massed crowds of their subjects, all cheering wildly to show their support.
“So, the symbolism of this appearance could hardly have been more timely given the latest verbal pelting to have come from Montecito. This confident, stoic appearance suggested high levels of the kind of resilience that the Royal Family are always known for.”
