Release date: 03.12.2022 – 11:14
LONDON (AFP) – Prince Harry was accused of snubbed Queen Elizabeth II on Saturday after he announced he would miss a memorial service for her late husband, amid a legal dispute over his protection in the UK.
While a spokesman confirmed that Harry will miss the service at Westminster Abbey on March 29, he is reportedly set to attend the Invictus Games, which begins in the Netherlands in just two weeks.
After days of front-page coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, The Sun ran a headline: “Harry Phil Disparaged.”
Royal biographer Angela Levin has accused California-based Harry of “blackmailing” his grandfather Prince Philip’s service after the UK government withdrew his royal protection.
The second son of the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, “has been snubbed by the Duke of Edinburgh (Philip), but he’s actually snubbed by the Queen,” Levine told British media.
Prince Philip, who has been married to the Queen for 73 years, died last April, just weeks before his 100th birthday.
His funeral was held under strict coronavirus restrictions, with just 30 people in attendance, including Harry. The queen sat alone, following the instructions of the government.
Given the limited nature of the funeral, this month’s memorial service is intended to provide an opportunity for a national celebration of the Duke of Edinburgh’s long life and service.
Harry’s spokesman on Friday did not give a reason why he would miss it, but said he hoped to visit his grandmother “soon.”
The funeral was one of two occasions Harry has returned to the UK since he and his wife Meghan abandoned royal life and moved to North America two years ago.
As a result of their decision, the UK government withdrew his taxpayer-funded protection during visits to the UK, a decision that Harry is challenging in court.
Commentators have wondered why Harry would feel unsafe visiting the UK rather than the Netherlands for the Invictus Games, a sporting event he founded for disabled veterans, starting in The Hague on April 16.
ITV News royal editor Chris Ship tweeted that Harry had insisted on attending the week-long event but “came to the conclusion that he was not safe in the UK without access to the intelligence he asked for”.
Harry is filming a behind-the-scenes documentary about the Invictus Games as part of a multi-million dollar deal with Netflix.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth withdrew from attending yet another Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on Monday after a period of poor health, including a mild bout of Covid.
© 2022 AFP