'It's unforgivable': Thomas Markle rips Meghan and Harry for Prince Philip’s memorial service snub
Thomas Markle has slammed Meghan and Harry for skipping Prince Philip's memorial service, calling their decision "unforgivable" and a "slap in the face" to the Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose to stay in their $14 million mansion in Montecito as the rest of the Royal Family, including the Queen, convened in London for the somber event last week, despite her recent health difficulties. Harry, who is scheduled to fly to the Netherlands for the Invictus Games in a week, has declined to travel owing to a security dispute.
The Duke, 37, is contemplating a court challenge against the Home Office after learning that he will no longer be provided the 'same degree' of personal protective security while traveling from the United States, despite offering to pay for it. Thomas, though, stated on his YouTube channel that there was "no excuse" for Harry to miss the Westminster Abbey service.
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Thomas said, "Attending and giving respect and giving God's grace to Prince Philip for a lifetime of service was very important to the Queen, and for them to not show up was a slap in the face to the Queen. It was unforgivable. The British people won't forgive them for that, and they shouldn't. I don't know what the reason was, but there's no excuse at all. It's a slap in the face for the Queen and the British people."
Richard Griffin, who worked as a royal protection officer for Prince Philip for 14 years, was similarly critical of Harry's absence. "Prince Philip was their grandfather so William has obviously had a great training from him and is going to learn examples from him," Griffin stated. "I just hope Harry gets some of these things in his mind."
Griffin said, "It [Harry not being here] was a big disappointment for everybody. People were talking about it. Certainly around where I was people were saying he should have been here. All this nonsense about how he couldn’t get protection, as far as I’m concerned that was a pathetic excuse. He should’ve been here to honour his grandfather. At the end of the day, if he was that worried about security, he could’ve stuck with his brother and father who have got wonderful security and he would have been more than safe."
Harry's last UK visit was when he and his brother, Prince William, unveiled a statue of his late mother, Princess Diana, Princess of Wales, in London on July 1, 2021. The Duke's spokesman announced on March 11 that Harry would not return to the UK for the service, but said that he expects to see his grandmother on her 96th birthday on April 21. In 2021, Harry had returned from California without Meghan, who was heavily pregnant at the time, to attend Philip's funeral at Windsor's St George's Chapel.
Thomas, who began his YouTube channel last month, in his first video accused his daughter Meghan of lying about Samantha, her half-sister, and referred to the disputed book 'Finding Freedom' as "all lies." Samantha Markle, 57, is suing Meghan for defamation, claiming that during her TV appearance with Oprah Winfrey last year, Meghan made "false and malicious statements" about her. Thomas' latest move, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, will be met with 'disdain,' although the Sussexes will keep a close eye on his activities.