As they began their European tour in Manchester today, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry were compelled to hire a private security team to keep them safe as the Duchess of Sussex delivered her first address to a British audience since Megxit on gender equality.
The Sussexes are making their first public appearance in the UK since returning for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June. Harry’s legal dispute with the Home Office continues as a result of their refusal to receive armed police bodyguards who are paid for by the taxpayer round-the-clock when they visit Britain.
The couple’s decision to use at least two private security firms and dog teams to form a ring of steel around Bridgewater Hall comes just days after Meghan told The Cut magazine it takes ‘a lot of effort’ to forgive and hinted that she can ‘say anything’ in what has been translated as a veiled threat to the Royal Family.
They are going to Manchester on Monday for the opening of the One Young World summit, an event which brings together young leaders from more than 190 countries and where Meghan, 41, is due to give a speech on gender equality at its opening ceremony.
The Sussexes will spend the night in Windsor less than half a mile from William, Kate, and their three children, but the families are not likely to interact, highlighting the profound animosity between the two brothers. Instead, the Sussexes will travel to the North-West.
Additionally, the pair turned down Prince Charles’ “open invitation” to stay with them at his Scottish vacation home on the Balmoral estate. Prior to their visit to the UK, the Prince of Wales assured the couple they were “always welcome” at his house, according to insiders in the palace.
Meghan, a counsellor for the One Young World, will give the keynote address at the opening ceremony this evening. The pair will also meet a group of summit delegates doing ‘outstanding work on gender equality’, One organisation said.
It is understood the couple and event organisers have arranged security after Harry was told he was no longer entitled to taxpayer-funded official armed police bodyguards.
A spokesman for Greater Manchester Police confirmed its officers were not involved, adding that security for the event had been ‘privately sourced’.
Harry is suing the Home Office, claiming that the removal of his taxpayer-funded armed police protection bodyguards since they quit as frontline royals is ‘unfair’, ‘illegal’ and puts his family at risk.
Today it emerged that Prince William has ‘no plans’ to see his younger brother Prince Harry until after the California-based royal releases his bombshell memoir this winter, even though the pair are currently staying around 380ft apart, as the crow flies, from each other in Windsor.
William, 40, and his wife, Kate Middleton, are said to be avoiding contact with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex until they know what the couple plans to disclose in their Netflix documentary and Harry’s forthcoming book.
‘They have lost their chance of being trusted as the chance is they will record any conversation and use it against them,’ Royal biographer Angela Levin told The Sun.
Levin alleged William does not have faith that Harry, 37, will not repeat their conversations. The author said William’s hesitance to interact with the Sussexes is their ‘own fault for vastly exaggerating and being rude.’
Harry and Meghan, 41, are believed to have arrived at Frogmore Cottage in Windsor on Saturday ahead of their European tour. The property is located just 380 feet away from the Cambridges’ new four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage, where William and Kate spent the weekend with their children.
The insiders told The Mirror that Charles had thought the Sussexes staying with Prince Charles would be a ‘good opportunity for everyone to take stock and relax.’
‘But the invitation was declined, as it has been before,’ the source said, adding that Charles hasn’t ‘wavered’ on his attempts to have a relationship with his son ‘despite the attacks which seem to be coming with increased vigour.’
Harry and Meghan, pictured in New York last month, are starting their European Tour today
Prince William (right) has ‘no plans’ to see his brother Prince Harry (left) until after the California-based royal releases his bombshell memoir this winter, despite the fact that the pair are currently staying half a mile apart from each other. The brothers are pictured together in July 2021
Harry and Meghan are staying at Frogmore Cottage located just 380 feet away from the Cambridges’ new four-bedroom Adelaide Cottage
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle declined an ‘open invitation’ to stay with Prince Charles at his Scottish holiday house on the Balmoral estates. Charles, Meghan and Harry are pictured together in June 2018
The Windsor cottages (380ft apart) belonging to the Cambridges and the Sussexes
Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly ‘travelled light’ to their new estate and did not require a pricey refurbishment or new furniture and fittings.
Adelaide Cottage was built for Queen Adelaide in 1831 and is nestled just a 10-minute walk from Windsor Castle in the private Home Park.
They moved to the four-bed cottage to be closer to their children’s new school in Ascot – with a school run of just nine-miles – when term starts this week.
William and Kate are seeking a life in the country away from the ‘goldfish bowl’ of their official residence Kensington Palace in London in a bid to put their children first and give them more freedom.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge reportedly want to be normal ‘school gate parents’ and their children’s school uniforms have already been purchased.
Also moving with the family-of-five was beloved pet cocker spaniel Orla.
The family will have not be joined by their live-in nanny Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo will live away from the family for the first time, as will other staff including the housekeeper and the chef.
Prince William and Kate Middleton and their family reportedly ‘travelled light’ to their new home Adelaide Cottage (pictured above in 2013) and did not require a pricey refurbishment
Their move was in stark contrast to Prince Harry and Meghan’s move to Frogmore Cottage (pictured) in April 2018, when they spent £2.4million on a refurbishment .
William and Kate’s move was in stark contrast to Prince Harry and Meghan’s move to Frogmore Cottage in April 2018, when they spent £2.4million on a refurbishment.
They carried out extensive works on their new home, a wedding present from the Queen, which included turning small houses into a ten-bed home and completely refitting the gas and water mains.
They also had a complete redecoration of the Grade II listed property including installing trendy new bathrooms, bedrooms and a kitchen which reportedly had a ‘floating floor’.
The two cottages are located half a mile apart from one another.
News of the declined invitation surfaced after Charles, 73, was pictured heading to church in Balmoral alone Sunday morning. Insiders allege he continues to find Harry and Meghan’s jibes at the Royal Family ‘painful’ and is ‘completely bewildered’ by their behaviour.
Harry and Meghan are in the UK this week for two charity events. The couple are travelling to Manchester on Monday where Meghan is due to give a speech on gender equality.
The couple has asked private security firms to provide a ‘ring of steel’ in Manchester for their appearance at the One Young World young leaders’ forum, amid a row over who pays for their protection on UK soil.
‘One would have thought if such concerns existed, the best place to be would be next to the family, but there you go,’ the palace insider said of their alleged safety worries.
Two different dog teams were seen at the venue on Sunday including one from private firm Global Support Services, which provides protection dogs, specialist detection dogs, close protectio
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