Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could skip Prince Philip’s upcoming memorial if their fight over security is not resolved, Page Six is told.
It had been expected that they would attend the spring 2022 service for his late grandfather, who died last April at age 99, and finally introduce their 7-month-old daughter, Lilibet, to the royal family.
But that’s all on hold with the Duke of Sussex in a legal dispute with the British government over a decision not to let him pay for police protection for his family while in the UK.
Harry wants to bring Lilibet and 2-year-old son Archie to visit from the US, but they are “unable to return to his home” because it is too dangerous, a legal representative said.
It comes after he was chased by a pack of photographers from an event for children’s charity WellChild in London last summer.
Harry, 37, and Markle, 40, have their own security in the US, but sources pointed out their privately paid-for team has no authority whatsoever in the UK.
One royal source said: “If Harry goes, he will want to have security for him and his family. If and when he decides to go back to the UK, he needs security.”
Although Harry and Markle have not announced any official travel plans for the year, it has been widely believed they would attend the service.
It would be the first time that Lilibet would meet great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth and grandfather Prince Charles — alongside her uncle and aunt, Prince William and Kate Middleton. Markle has not been back to the UK since the couple officially quit royal life in March 2020.
Harry attended his late grandfather’s funeral in April 2021, but Markle — who was heavily pregnant with Lilibet at the time — remained in the US.
Reps for the couple were unavailable for comment.
In a lengthy statement Saturday, reps for Harry revealed that he has twice petitioned the UK government to allow him to pay for his own police security, including a request for a judicial review of the matter in September 2021, so “as not to impose on the British taxpayer.” Both times his request was denied.
“As is widely known,” the statement continued, “others who have left public office and have an inherent threat risk receive police protection at no cost to them.”
The statement added that these security concerns were proven especially valid during Harry’s last trip to the UK, to attend the unveiling of a statue of his late mother, Diana. He had security while at the event by his old home at Kensington Palace, but not when he left the event.
“During his last visit to the UK in July 2021 … [Harry’s] security was compromised due to the absence of police protection, whilst leaving a charity event,” the statement said.
If the issue is not resolved, it could also hinder Harry and Markle’s return for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June.
“I doubt his own security from the States would be allowed to the inner sanctum of the Royal Family. That is a job that is done by the Met Police or Thames Valley Police,” Charles Rae, former royal editor at the Sun, told the Express. “I think he has a point.”
However, Dai Davies, the former head of royal protection, warned that Harry “cannot pick and choose” when he wants to visit the UK and receive protection.
The ex-Met Police officer pointed out Princess Anne, Harry’s aunt, was nearly kidnapped and her protection officer was shot — but she does not received full-time protection.
“However, should there be a risk when he comes, then, clearly, the Metropolitan Police would be duty bound,” Davies told “Good Morning Britain.”
