While the Queen expressed her support for their decision, it was made clear that they could no longer utilize their royal titles for commercial purposes or carry out official duties on behalf of the monarchy. Additionally, they were required to discontinue using the Sussex Royal brand in their new life in the United States. Harry and Meghan subsequently signed multi-million dollar deals with Netflix and Spotify to produce content, and things seemed to calm down for a while.
However, recent documents have revealed that Meghan's application for a US passport for their son Archie was rejected due to her lack of a valid visa to reside in America at the time. Meghan had claimed in her court papers, filed as part of her privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, that she couldn't provide her passport details due to an expired visa. Lawyers for Associated Newspapers argued that her account was misleading since she couldn't have submitted a valid UK visa application for Archie without having lawful residence in the US herself. They claimed that her statements regarding a valid visa were inaccurate at best.
These revelations have caused significant embarrassment for the royal family and have damaged their reputation. Royal experts suggest that Harry and Meghan may now face accusations of intentionally misleading the public about their residency status. The Queen, as the head of the British royal family, is reportedly deeply troubled by this latest controversy surrounding Harry and Meghan. Consequently, an emergency meeting has been called at Penguin House, with senior members of the royal family, including the Queen, Prince Charles, and Prince William, in attendance.
The primary agenda of this crisis meeting is to discuss Harry's ongoing contacts and engagements with the royal family going forward. It is believed that some senior royals, particularly Prince William, are inclined to sever ongoing contact and financial support for Harry following this incident. They feel that he has crossed a line by allowing misleading claims about residency to circulate without addressing them promptly. While the Queen and others reportedly still hold a degree of maternal care for Harry despite his actions, they cannot tolerate issues that disrupt the monarchy or cast a negative light on it. Thus, cutting ties with Harry may be an inevitable decision to prevent further damage, according to sources.
Buckingham Palace is also under pressure to take firm action against Harry and prevent similar controversies from arising in the future. The bombshell Oprah interview from last year, where the couple made serious accusations, including allegations of racism, has already eroded public support for the Sussexes in the UK. Today's emergency meeting is expected to determine what consequences, if any, should follow with regards to Harry's privileges moving forward.
Sources indicate that tensions are running high within Penguin House as family members debate potential solutions. As of late afternoon, the meeting had been ongoing for over three hours without a definitive announcement. Local media outlets have gathered outside the gates, eagerly awaiting any updates from royal officials. This story is undoubtedly still evolving, so stay tuned for further information as it becomes available.
Amidst these negotiations, friends of Harry have spoken up in his defense. A longtime acquaintance told CNN that the Duke deeply loves his grandmother and has no intention of undermining the institution. They emphasized that while he may get frustrated at times, his ultimate goal is what's best for the royal family. According to these friends, the latest controversy has been blown out of proportion without considering all the facts. However, critics argue that Harry must take greater responsibility for verifying claims made by his wife in the public domain. Failing to clarify their legal residency status before relinquishing their royal duties raises valid questions about their intentions, which should be addressed.
Regardless, this fiasco reinforces skepticism surrounding the couple's narrative of events since their departure from the UK. The popularity of the royal family hinges on trust, integrity, and credibility. Finding a solution that satisfies all parties involved is crucial, as another public division could be extremely damaging at this time. Consequently, mounting pressure falls on the Queen and the heir apparent, Prince Charles, to make an executive decision that ensures stability moving forward. The specific nature of that decision remains unclear for now.
