Another day, another ego stroke for the arrogant Sussexes.
Prince Harry has lost his legal challenge against the Home Office over its decision to deny him and his family automatic police protection while in the UK. One would have to be hard-hearted not to giggle, or at least roll one’s eyes. “What was he thinking…?”
This decision is not only a triumph of common sense, but also shows once again how unaware Harry, now a pure Californian, is of the public mood.
It’s been almost four years since Harry and Meghan left these shores for places where every Joe Schmoe carries a gun. Maybe they’ve been bitten by the personal protection bug?
In all that time, the Duke of Sussex has returned to the country that once loved him only a few times… and the duchess only once, during World War II. For Elizabeth’s funeral. With Britain heading into recession and Brexit causing a 5 per cent drop in our GDP, this is no time for overstretched public funds to be set aside for rainy day security details in case this retired couple and their families decide to fly in. .
It’s safe to say that Britain has other priorities at the moment. There are even greater causes for concern within Harry’s own family.
Misfortune followed the royal family this year. The 75-year-old King, who is only 18 months into the role he has been working on throughout his life, is undergoing cancer treatment. The Princess of Wales is said to be “recovering” following abdominal surgery that will keep her out of circulation until Easter at the earliest. The unexpected return to public life of Prince Andrew, who led the royal team at King Constantine’s memorial service yesterday, beaming after the Prince of Wales was summoned for a private matter, was certainly missing from my bingo news events this week.
The next big royal event looks likely to be a funeral: Thomas Kingston, husband of Lady Gabriella, King Charles’ cousin 56th in line to the throne, was found dead on Sunday at the age of 45.
Sorry Harry and Meghan… we’re a little busy at the moment. We don’t have bandwidth as they say in California. But look on the bright side; You can always present this Supreme Court decision with all your other cases and use it to fuel a bright sense of grievance.
Harry should have seen this decision coming, because it had become a habit to make others pay for his lifestyle until he came to his senses.
It wasn’t until January 2020 when he and his wife casually shared their bombshell decision to Megxit on Instagram (yes, that’s now a name) — initially in the hope of creating a “progressive new role within this institution” and sharing their time between them. The US and UK half-expected to somehow protect their globe-trotting security details before later “stepping back” as royal family employees and instead turning to “finding freedom” from Sovereign Endowment donations. They were wrong about this and many other things.
Their public resignations as senior royals effectively ended their status as IPPs (Internationally Protected Persons), a position that automatically comes with state-appointed security and diplomatic immunity. Without it, as is right and proper, you are on your own.
I think what bothered Harry was that his late mother, towards the end of her life, gave up on royal protection officers, choosing instead to rely on the private security company hired by her then-boyfriend’s father, Mohamed al-Fayed. With disastrous results.
Of course, the loss of Harry’s details loomed large in the couple’s infamous relationship. Oprah’s report. He recalled how they left Britain to live at Mille Fleurs, a luxury waterfront mansion on Vancouver Island; where “the biggest concern was: […] that security would be removed… the world knows where we are, it’s not safe, it’s not safe; “We probably need to get out of here.”
It didn’t take long for them to overstay their welcome. Thousands of Canadians have signed a petition asking why the couple isn’t paying for their own security and demanding that the government stop providing the couple with protection, which is estimated to cost the couple a fortune each year. It was later revealed that Charles had paid for the guards at his own expense, probably out of paternal love.
This time, they set out for California, seeking refuge in billionaire movie producer Tyler Perry’s stylish mansion in Beverly Hills, and went looking for a home of their own in Los Angeles. As Meghan told Oprah: “We didn’t have a plan, we just needed a house and [Perry] He also offered his security.”
Safety again played a central role in the “near-disaster” slow-speed chases through Manhattan traffic last May; In order to escape from photographers, private security teams advised the couple to take a taxi on 67th Street.
And remember when these two were branded “environmental hypocrites” after using a series of private jets to tour the world? “But security…” was one of the reasons. (The commercial featuring William and his clan happily flying around seemed a bit cold.)
If the Sussexes are so determined to improve their security, perhaps they should follow the lead of cash-strapped Southwark Council, which this week launched a crowdfunding drive for nice little “extras” such as cycle sheds and LED streetlights.
Can someone show the Duke how to start a GoFundMe?