Harry and Meghan hit with ‘fiasco of personal making’ and have ‘critical inquiries to reply’
Prince Harry and Meghan face a backlash after pulling their kids from school over a security blunder, with experts branding their UK return a self-made fiasco
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are embroiled in a ‘fiasco entirely of their own making’ following their UK comeback(Image: Getty Images)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are embroiled in a “fiasco entirely of their own making” following their UK comeback, a former head of royal protection has warned.
The Sussexes have been left red-faced after pulling Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, out of their fancy Cotswolds prep school after just two days. Retired Chief Superintendent Dai Davies believes there are “serious questions to answer” over why the couple’s private security team failed to carry out the “proper and necessary” checks in advance.
The security team reportedly panicked when their convoy separated during bumper-to-bumper school run traffic, leaving the kids “sitting ducks” after bodyguards had only test-run the route during the holidays.
The Sussexes have been left red-faced after pulling Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet out of their Cotswolds prep school(Image: Instagram)
Ex-Royal protection chief Davies branded the security failure a “basic and inexcusable” error.
He told the Daily Mail: “I have always said, throughout my career, ‘fail to prepare, prepare to fail’. And it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to work out this was something they should have done as a matter of urgency before they started school.
“As private citizens, of course, this shouldn’t matter. But Harry has made a song and dance over his lack of taxpayer-funded police protection and has repeatedly demanded this be reconsidered.
Davies said that the Sussexes would do well to ‘shut up about their private arrangements’(Image: Getty Images)
“Indeed, just this week we have learnt that a review is now being undertaken. As it happens, I do think one should at least be carried out and it will be up to [royal security body] Ravec to decide what to do.
“But, based on this chaotic set of circumstances, it is difficult to see how the committee can make a reasoned decision.”
Davies said that the Sussexes would do well to “shut up about their private arrangements” as it was “attracting attention they didn’t need”.
He added: “We know that the Prince and Princess of Wales have done the school run with their children every day, both in London and the countryside, throughout their schooling and never has there once been the slightest fuss.
“To say that the Sussex children need a convoy is nonsensical. It is fair to offer them a risk assessment but, if they are given security, where does this all end?
“Does it mean that taxpayers will have to pay for the security of their home, their private and commercial trips abroad? We don’t even know how long they are planning on staying.
“Harry said nine months ago that it’s far too dangerous to come back to Britain. What has changed in those nine months?
“It seems to me that until there’s a logical explanation of why the U-turn, there is no justification for them being given security.
“This really is a fiasco from outset of their own making. And I am not sure taxpayers should be expected to step in.”
Former Met Police Chief Superintendent Dal Babu agreed that the “saga” of pulling their children from their first school in the UK after two days was a clear sign they had “rushed” their move back from California.
The couple quickly turned their focus to other schools, with Archie and Lilibet doing a “taster” day at a new school on Monday before starting full-time, while Meghan has reportedly already been in touch with other parents via WhatsApp.
