Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s story has been thrown into doubt again as letters have revealed the Queen did want them to have “effective security”.
It comes as the Duke of Sussex on Friday told a court he was “forced to leave” his UK home as he waged a battle over his security.
Harry is challenging the decision to downgrade his publicly-funded security detail after he quit as a working royal in 2020.
In a statement read out on his behalf in court, Harry said he felt “forced” to leave the UK after the security downgrade.
But now letters between the late Queen’s most senior aide and the then Cabinet Secretary, shown in court, show how the monarch considered it “imperative” that they kept “effective security”.
Sir Edward Young wrote to Sir Mark Sedwill, explaining that keeping the Sussexes safe was “of paramount importance to Her Majesty and her family”.
It throws Harry and Meghan’s narrative that they were cut off by the Royal Family into doubt, the UK Telegraph reports.
In his autobiography Spare, Harry wrote he was “desperate” to keep his security and begged his family – including the late Queen – to continue armed police protection.
He says he told them: “Look. Please. Meg and I don’t care about perks, we care about working, serving – and staying alive”.
Harry says he was facing “total abandonment”.
In a statement read out in court yesterday, Harry wrote: “It was with great sadness to both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020.
“The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the United States.
“That cannot happen if there is no possibility to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.
“I can’t put my wife in danger like that, and given my experiences in life I’m reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
The statement differs to one Harry and Meghan wrote in January 2020 – at the time of their Megxit departure – which said they “chose” to leave rather than were “forced”.
It read: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.
“It is with your encouragement, particularly over the last few years, that we feel prepared to make this adjustment.”
The Sussexes stepped back from royal duties in March 2020 when they moved to the United States.
The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) decided Harry should no longer have the same level of security as senior royals.
But his legal team say there was a lack of transparency, and the usual risk analysis was not applied.
The Duke’s team says his private security reported issues to the Met after he was “interdicted by paparazzi” at a WellChild event in 2021.
But Sir James said details were not provided within the required 28-day notice period.
He added that the Duke “is now aware of the importance of providing notice and has generally provided an intended itinerary”.
The Sun has contacted the Sussexes for comment.
It comes as King Charles is refusing to let himself be “emotionally blackmailed” by Prince Harry over the ‘royal race row’ scandal.
A Dutch version of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame named the King as one of “two identities” Meghan accused of raising “concerns” about the colour of Archie’s skin.
Buckingham Palace has refused to comment on the drama and Harry and Meghan have remained silent.
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But sources close to King Charles say he was “not concerned” by his name appearing in the Dutch version and remains “full of energy”.
He has told friends that he “will not be emotionally blackmailed by his own son” after Harry appeared to be using his children in his ongoing battle with the Royal Family.
This story originally appeared on The Sun and was reproduced with permission
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2023-12-10 19:36:23Z
CBMitQFodHRwczovL3d3dy5uZXdzLmNvbS5hdS9lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50L2NlbGVicml0eS1saWZlL3JveWFscy9wcmluY2UtaGFycnktYW5kLW1lZ2hhbi1tYXJrbGVzLXN0b3J5LWluLWRvdWJ0LWFzLXF1ZWVucy1sZXR0ZXJzLXJldmVhbC10cnV0aC9uZXdzLXN0b3J5LzI0NmFiZDVmMmZjNWM3YjUwNDQ2YzExNjMyMzM0Yjlm0gEA
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