In their much-discussed 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry claimed that the royal family had failed to adequately protect them.
However, recently revealed excerpts from Queen Elizabeth's private letters tell a different story, showing multiple attempts to ensure the safety and security of the Duke of Sussex. One excerpt emphasizes the paramount importance of providing effective security given the public profile of the Duke, his military service, and the history of targeting the Sussex family by extremists.
In the Oprah Winfrey interview, Prince Harry expressed concerns for the safety of his family, especially after a publication leaked their location in Canada. The Queen's private letters, now part of Harry's current legal battle against the Daily Mail and the home office, reveal her wishes to prioritize the safety of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The ongoing legal dispute involves Harry challenging the executive committee for the protection of royalty and public figures (RAVC) to reinstate his personnel for security when in the UK.
The legal documents assert that RAVC should have considered the potential impact of a successful attack on Harry, given his status, background, and profile within the royal family. Harry, in a written statement against the home office, expressed his desire for Archie and Lilibet to have a childhood filled with memories of the UK. He highlighted the significance of the UK as his home and a central part of his children's heritage. Despite residing in the United States, he stressed the importance of maintaining their safety when on UK soil.
Harry's stance reflects his unwillingness to compromise the safety of his family members. He mentioned the reluctance to put his wife and himself in harm's way unnecessarily, considering his life experiences. Despite these concerns, the UK home office indicated that they would handle Harry's security on a case-by-case basis, emphasizing his non-working status as a member of the royal family living abroad for the majority of the time.
