Dutch royals SNUB Meghan and Harry, refuse room at the royal palace during Invictus Games visit
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were reportedly snubbed by Dutch royals on their first overseas trip days after the couple said the UK is not safe to visit.
It has now emerged that the Sussexes will not be greeted with a red carpet or a royal reception, and will be put up in a hotel instead of being hosted by the Dutch royals. Traditionally, the Dutch royal family hosts stays of foreign royals, but a spokesperson has confirmed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be offered a room in the royal palace’ during their seven-day Invictus Games visit.
Harry and Meghan will attend the event for wounded soldiers at The Hague's Zuiderpark, which will also be graced by Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Princess Margriet.
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Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, will be staying at a hotel in The Hague.The couple might be handed a "VIP status" by Dutch police after being instructed they can't have private armed security guards on their first trip to Europe since Megxit.
Harry and Meghan reportedly employ armed security from their A-list-approved bodyguard Gavin de Becker while traveling across America. However, the couple was told Tuesday night, April 12, that their private protection officers cannot be armed if they wish to travel to Holland for the Invictus Games slated for this weekend.
This comes amid a lawsuit brought on by the Duke of Sussex against the British government for removing his taxpayer-funded Met Police armed guards after he quit royal duty. Harry alleges in court papers that he "does not feel safe" in Britain and that the decision to revoke his security is "unlawful" and "unfair." He and Meghan hire armed protection in the US but aren't allowed to use them in Britain.
According to The Sun, the Sussexes will be followed by a Netflix film crew for an upcoming documentary as part of their $146 million deal with the streaming giant. Harry is expected to make a speech at the opening ceremony on Saturday, April 16. "King Willem-Alexander and Princess Margriet will attend the Invictus Games," according to a spokesman for the Dutch Royal family. "The Princess will be present at the opening ceremony on April 16, the King at the closing ceremony on April 22."
Meghan has not been to the UK since flying to Canada following the Commonwealth Day ceremony at Westminster Abbey in March 2020. In the meantime, her husband visited his home country for the Duke of Edinburgh's funeral and unveiling of Princess Diana's statue last year. Royal experts believe the Duchess of Sussex will only return to the UK if she's allowed to bring her Netflix camera crews with her. "Meghan is going because they're doing the next Netflix documentary," royal expert Angela Levin told The Sun of her Invictus Games trip. "They're going with cameras, and she wouldn't want to miss out on the publicity. The Invictus Games don't belong to her, she likes taking over things that she thinks will be productive for her. She's not necessary there," the expert added.
When asked whether she thinks the Sussexes will return to the UK later this year, Levin predicted, "I think they'll come back if we’ll allow them to bring Netflix cameramen, they won't come otherwise."