Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s request to travel on Air Force One alongside President Joe Biden following Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral has been declined. The White House refused their request, citing the need to maintain a respectful relationship with King Charles III of the United Kingdom.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Request to President Joe Biden
According to Daily Mail, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made a request to President Joe Biden to board Air Force One after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. However, the White House rejected the request, stating that Harry is no longer a working member of the British Royal Family after stepping down with Meghan Markle in early 2020.
The United States also opted to avoid any tensions with the newly-appointed King Charles III.
“It would cause such a stir. It would make relations tense with the Palace and the new King,” a source told Daily Mail.
Not Invited to Use the Royal Family’s Private Jet
It is known that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were in the UK in September to attend several charity events related to their philanthropic work. Unfortunately, they were present in the country coincidentally when Queen Elizabeth II passed away.
Prince Harry managed to travel to Scotland to mourn the loss of his grandmother. However, Harry stated that his family had already arrived with the use of a private jet.
In his claim, Prince Harry mentioned not being invited to use the Royal Family’s private jet after hearing the news of Queen Elizabeth II’s critical condition.
“I wasn’t invited,” Prince Harry said in an interview with Anderson Cooper on 60 Minutes.
Queen Elizabeth II Funeral
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attended the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II at Westminster Abbey on September 19, 2022. Despite their decision to step down from their positions as senior royals, they occupied highly visible spots at the funeral. They were seated directly behind Harry’s father, King Charles III, and the Queen Consort Camilla, at the foot of the high altar.
During the funeral procession, Prince Harry walked alongside senior members of the Queen’s household, while Meghan Markle arrived solo. The couple had been in the UK to mourn the Queen alongside Prince William and Kate Middleton since the Queen’s death. However, their children did not attend the funeral. The seating arrangement at the funeral was a topic of discussion, as Harry and Meghan were not seated in the front row with other family members. Instead, they were seated in the second row beside Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children, Archie and Lilibet, did not attend Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. The reason for their absence was simply because of their young age. Archie was three years old at the time, while Lilibet was only one year old. The couple decided to keep their children at their home in Montecito, California, rather than have them attend their great-grandmother’s funeral.
It is common for young children to not attend solemn royal events, as they may not fully understand the significance and solemnity of such occasions. Additionally, the distance and logistics of traveling with young children may have been a factor in their decision. Prince William and Kate Middleton also left their youngest son, Prince Louis, at home while their older children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, attended the funeral. Overall, the decision to not bring Archie and Lilibet to the funeral was made to prioritize their well-being and age-appropriate experiences.