Will Harry and Meghan skip Prince Philip memorial? Couple starts 11 companies amid security row
Tensions continue to grow between the British Royal Family and estranged members Harry and Meghan, while the Sussex Royals are caught up in a legal dispute with UK government over security demands. Now, uncertainty looms over their attendance at Prince Philip's memorial in April 2022. Originally, it was expected that Harry and Meghan would visit UK to pay tributes to the late Royal, on the one-year anniversary of his death. This would have also been the formal introduction of the Royal family with Meghan and Harry's newborn daughter Diana Lilibet. Moreover, Prince Charles personally extended the olive branch to his younger son and his family hoping to meet his granddaughter Lilibet for the first time.
However, Harry's demand for additional security has met with a cold snub from the UK Government, as the authorities refused to let him pay for his family's police protection while in the UK. Harry believes it is "too dangerous" for him and his family to visit the UK after he was chased by a pack of frenzied photographers in London last summer. In April 2021, Harry had attended Prince Philip's funeral alone while Meghan stayed back in California, US, over advanced pregnancy issues.
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Though there was no confirmation about Harry and Meghan's attendance at the memorial this year, it was widely believed that this would be the first chance for Lilibet to meet great-grandmother Queen Elizabeth and grandfather Prince Charles — alongside her uncle and aunt, Prince William and Duchess Kate, as well as cousins George, Charlotte, and Louis.
On Saturday, Harry's reps released a lengthy statement detailing how he had petitioned twice to the UK Government for extra security but was turned down both times. “As is widely known, others who have left public office and have an inherent threat risk receive police protection at no cost to them....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 added. While Harry and Meghan have their private security personnel in the US, it is likely that they would not be permitted inside the royal premises in UK.
Amid the ongoing dispute, an exclusive report by DailyMail has revealed that Harry and Meghan have set up a complex network of 11 companies, all with names associated with them personally. From Peca (Meghan's freckles in Spanish), Orinoco (a South American river) to Hampshire (Harry and Meghan's babymoon getaway), the companies are mostly based in tax haven Delaware. The name of Meghan's business manager and noted money guru Andrew Meyer also appears on the filings for all the eleven firms as well as a trust.
While Peca Publishing holds the rights to Meghan's children's book 'The Bench', another entire company is devoted to Harry's multi-million dollar book deal. It remains to be seen how and when the couple launches the other firms named in the report and state filings.