Sh0ck Security Issue Emerges as Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Prepare for UK Return
A last-minute twist has cast doubt on Prince Harry’s plans to bring Meghan and their children back to the UK.
Prince Harry is reportedly reconsidering a long-await trip back to Britain with wife Meghan and their two children, throwing plans for what would have been the family’s first UK visit in four years into doubt.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been due to travel to the UK in early July for the Invicitus Games One Year To Go celebrations in Birmingham, alongside their son, Prince Archie, and daughter, Princess Lilibet.
The trip was also set to include several private family moments and charity engagements.
But according to UK media outlet the Telegraph, the visit is now in jeopardy after Harry received an update about the family’s security arrangements.
The publication reports the Royal and VIP Executive Committe (RAVEC) has rejected Harry’s latest application for tax-payer funded police protection during their visit, prompting him to reconsider whether it is safe for his wife and children to travel.
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A source told the publication the decision was “wilfully creating conditions that are making it nearly impossible” for the Sussexes to travel around the country.
Under the current arrangements, the family would only receive police protection while on royal property.
Reports have previously suggested King Charles offered the Sussexes accommodation at a royal residence, although it is not known whether they planned to accept the invitation.
Harry lost his automatic tax-payer funded security after stepping back as a working royal in 2020.
Since then, he has been required to give at least 28 days notice before travelling to the UK, with protection assessed on a case-by-case basis.
The hiccup in the plans comes after newly uncovered records have revealed Sarah Ferguson visited Jeffrey Epstein at an office linked to a company he used while serving a jail sentence for child sex offences.
According to documents cited by the Telegraph, the former Duchess of York met with the disgraced financier at the Palm Beach offices of the Florida Science Foundation twice, a company Mr Epstein operated from while participating in a work release program following his 2008 conviction for procuring a minor for prostitution.
The arrangement allowed Mr Epstein to leave jail for up to 12 hours each day, during which he continued conducting business and meeting visitors.
Court records show Ms Ferguson first reached out to Mr Epstein on April 4, 2009, asking whether she could “stop by for a quick cup of tea” while passing through Florida.
She signed the email: “Love Sarah The Red Head.!!”
Mr Epstein replied by sending the address of his office, telling her it was “10 minutes from (the airport).”
After the visit, Mr Epstein emailed Ms Ferguson saying she looked “great” and added he had read “everything you gave me”, referring to material she had shared relating to her Mum’s Army initiative.
The pair later organised another meeting for April 20, 2009, but it never took place after the former Duchess of York’s travel plans changed.
On the day of the planned visit she wrote: “Aaaaghhh. . . Cannot make the flights.”
Before cancelling, Ms Ferguson told Mr Epstein she was hoping for a “brainstorming of your genius ideas”.
Although the meeting was abandoned, records show Ms Ferguson later called Mr Epstein from the UK before travelling to Florida for a second visit on May 13, 2009.
