Meghan Markle news latest – Prince Harry & Duchess 'get military-style hostile environment training over security fears'
PRINCE Harry & Meghan reportedly undertook "hostility training" with their security team ahead of their anticipated trip to Europe.
It's believed the Duke and Duchess will be guarded by a "high-level multi-agency protection programme" when they touch down in the Netherlands on Saturday for the Invictus Games.
But it seems the pair have also taken extreme measures of their own and have received a "hostile environment" training course run by their security team, according to The Mirror.
They have also been assured a "high level multi-agency protection programme" is in place for the couple for the duration of their trip.
A source told the publication: "Harry and Meghan have received absolute top assurances that there is no credible threat to their safety. This is the view of the Dutch authorities and other agencies across the continent.
"In any case, as they are attending a high profile event in the Netherlands, both the Duke and Duchess have been classed as VVIPs for the duration of their stay and overall responsibility for their safety at all times while in the Netherlands will be with the Dutch authorities."
And according to MailOnline, Harry and Meghan will not get an audience with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima during their stay and will have to instead spend the night at a hotel in The Hague.
Read our Meghan Markle live blog below for the latest news…
- Joseph Gamp
Meg and Harry assured there is 'no credible threat'
The couple have been assured there is “no credible threat” to their safety and they will be impeccably looked after by Dutch security.
The Mirror reported that a “high level multi-agency protection programme” is in place for the couple for the duration of their trip.
It includes direct links to all law enforcement and emergency services, as well as “detailed extraction processes” in the event of a “personal or larger scale terror attack”.
The Dutch national police’s DKDB Royal and Diplomatic Security Service are reportedly heading up the operation.
- Joseph Gamp
Harry slammed over treatment of Queen
A royal expert has slammed Prince Harry for his treatment of the Queen as he is reportedly set to slam Prince Charles and Camilla in his upcoming memoir.
Tina Brown, former editor of Vanity Fair and friend of Princess Diana that the Duke “can’t stand” Camilla, and will go after both her and Charles in the memoir.
Royal commentator Angela Levin then went over to criticise Harry over Ms Brown’s claims, stating that the public is “bored rigid of hearing how hard done by he is”.
She tweeted: “Tina Brown says that Harry dislikes Prince Charles and Camilla and will write about it in his memoir.
“If true aren’t we all bored rigid with hearing how hard done by he is/was and his life as a millionaire victim.
“Has he stepped in to help the Queen or even visited her?”
- Joseph Gamp
Harry & Meghan can't have armed guards during Holland trip
Prince Harry and Meghan have been told they cannot have private armed security guards on their first trip to Europe since Megxit.
The Sussexes are due at the Invictus Games opening in The Hague, Netherlands, on Saturday.
They are believed to employ armed security from Gavin de Becker in the US but are not allowed them overseas.
Dutch police last night confirmed private guards could not carry weapons there, saying only government officials such as police and military personnel, were allowed.
Harry, 37, is suing the UK Government after his taxpayer-funded Met Police armed guards were removed when he quit royal duty.
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding was ‘tense’
Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding was ‘tense’ and the ‘Queen’s body language topped the list’ according to a body language expert.
Speaking to FEMAIL, Judi James explained how the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla was ‘tense’, with Harry ‘distancing’ himself from the group in portraits.
She said: ‘This was a tense affair all round, with the Queen’s body language probably topping the list when it came to stoicism and teeth-gritting.
‘Harry and William performed their usual upbeat and fun-loving double act, with Harry clearly living up to his reputation as ‘the joker prince.
‘However he appears to be less keen on showing the face of grinning ‘approval’ when it comes to the official portraits.’
She continued: ‘Both William and the Queen are sporting’ intentional gesture’ smiles, a baring of the teeth that looks too forced to be authentic but which shows a desire to be seen to be sociable and polite.
- Joseph Gamp
The Queen 'is definitely a chocaholic' says former chef
THE QUEEN is a chocoholic and loves to eat dark chocolate coffee mousse, her former chef has revealed.
Darren McGrady also said Gordon Ramsay could never be a chef at Buckingham Palace "because of his ego".
The renowned cook spent over a decade creating dishes for Liz and also cooked for Princes William, Harry, and Diana Princess of Wales.
He said: ""The Queen was definitely a chocoholic, she loves dark chocolate.
"I used to make a mousse au chocolate et café, a dark chocolate mousse, and I added in some real espresso coffee to intensify the flavour.
"So that was on the menu quite a bit at Buckingham Palace." Darren, who is based in Dallas, Texas, has also cooked for five US presidents.
He began his career in the royal kitchen in 1982 making food for the corgis and peeling carrots for the Queen's horse at Balmoral.
- Louis Allwood
Team UK are on their way
Team UK are on their way to the Invictus Games where they will join Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
It will be Meghan's first trip out of America since Megxit – and the pair will be followed around by Netflix cameras.
But royal experts have claimed that this is a "snub" to the Queen – after they refused to attend Prince Philip's memorial just days ago.
- Louis Allwood
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry take drastic steps
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are understood to have gone to drastic lengths to keep themselves safe during their trip to the Netherlands this weekend.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been given "VVIP status" by Dutch cops ahead of their first overseas trip together since Megxit.
It's believed they will be guarded by a "high-level multi-agency protection programme" when they touch down for the Invictus Games on Saturday – but have also taken extreme measures of their own.
The pair are said to have taken part in a "hostile environment" training course run by their security team, The Mirror reports.
They have also been assured a "high level multi-agency protection programme" is in place for the couple for the duration of their trip.
A source told the Mirror: "Harry and Meghan have received absolute top assurances that there is no credible threat to their safety.
"This is the view of the Dutch authorities and other agencies across the continent.
"In any case, as they are attending a high profile event in the Netherlands, both the Duke and Duchess have been classed as VVIPs for the duration of their stay and overall responsibility for their safety at all times while in the Netherlands will be with the Dutch authorities."
- Louis Allwood
What are the Invictus Games?
The Invictus Games was set up by Prince Harry in 2014 with the aim "to demonstrate the power of sports to inspire recovery, support rehabilitation and to demonstrate life beyond disability".
This year's event, taking place in The Hague, will see more than 500 competitors from 20 nations compete.
Wounded, injured, or sick armed service personnel can all take part in a range of sports.
Prince Harry created the games after being inspired by the US Warrior Games, a similar sporting event for injured service personnel.
He launched them on March 6, 2014, by Prince Harry at London's Copper Box arena, used as a venue during the 2012 Olympics.
He said that the long-term objective was to ensure injured troops were not forgotten.
- Louis Allwood
Meghan and Harry podcast set to be rivalled
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's brand new podcast has received a new rival as Prince William makes his very own appearance on a podcast to discuss the planet's environmental problems.
The Duke of Cambridge sat down with co-host and actress Cate Blanchett to discuss the world’s environmental crisis on the Audible podcast, Climate of Change.
His appearance comes just weeks before Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s first series for their Spotify podcast Archetypes is released in the summer.
- Louis Allwood
Harry and Meghan joined by Pete Buttigieg for Invictus Games
The US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg will lead the delegation to Prince Harry's Invictus Games.
The White House announced on Wednesday that Mr Buttigieg will travel to the Netherlands this week to lead a presidential delegation to the Invictus Games.
The Games are an international sporting event for “wounded, injured and sick Servicemen and women,” and have been held four times since its debut in 2014.
- Louis Allwood
Meg and Harry assured there is "no credible threat"
The couple have been assured there is "no credible threat" to their safety and they will be impeccably looked after by Dutch security.
The Mirror reported that a "high level multi-agency protection programme" is in place for the couple for the duration of their trip.
It includes direct links to all law enforcement and emergency services, as well as "detailed extraction processes" in the event of a "personal or larger scale terror attack".
The Dutch national police’s DKDB Royal and Diplomatic Security Service are reportedly heading up the operation.
- Louis Allwood
Harry and Meghan Markle given ‘VVIP status’
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been given "VVIP status" by Dutch cops ahead of their trips to the Netherlands this weekend.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will touchdown for the Invictus Games and be guarded by a "high-level multi-agency protection programme", according to reports.
Their plea for their private security team to be armed as they head to Holland was earlier snubbed by Dutch authorities.
But their bodyguards are said to have liaised with officials to work together during the Sussexes first trip to Europe since Megxit.
Officials are said to have given the pair "high level assurances their protection is a priority".
It comes amid Harry's ongoing legal battle with the British Government after he was stripped of his taxpayer-funded Met Police armed guards when he quit royal duty.
- Joseph Gamp
No official reception for Sussexes in Holland
Dutch King Willem-Alexander and Princess Margriet will attend the seven-day Invictus Games for wounded soldiers at The Hague’s Zuiderpark.
But there will be no official royal reception, audience, or red carpet for the couple.
The Dutch royal family are expected to attend the games but Harry and Meghan will not be staying at their palaces – and instead, they’ll be staying in a hotel in The Hague.
Traditionally the Dutch royal family do host foreign royals – but this has not been extended to Meghan and Harry, a spokesperson confirmed.
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Harry & William’s feud ‘very bad’
It has been claimed by a royal expert that the feud between Prince Harry and Prince William is “very bad”.
Princess Diana’s biographer Tina Brown told the Telegraph Magazine: “I’m told there’s absolutely nothing going on between them at the moment.
“The truth is the more charismatic prince was the younger brother. That was very difficult because Harry had to be contained and a role found for him.
“He had all these interests in Africa and conservation, but so did William and Harry always had to play second banana.
“Diana insisted, much to her credit as a mother, that the two boys would be treated the same, but they were never going to be the same, that’s the problem.”Edit
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan savaged after ‘all she has done’ to Firm
Despite Harry and Meghan being allowed to keep their Duke and Duchess titles when they quit as working royals in 2020, many have taken a swipe at the couple.
In a recent interview on GB News, novelist Celia Walden attacked the couple for signing a deal with Netflix, and accused the Duke and Duchess of Sussex of ignoring morality and ethics for money.
Referencing the GB News interview, Nile Gardiner, a former adviser to Mrs Thatcher, wrote on Twitter: “Simply incredible that Meghan Markle still retains a Royal title after all she has done to insult and attack the British Monarchy.”
Mr Gardiner’s comments went down well with others on the social media site.
One said said: “Agree! The monarchy is showing their weakness.
“MM has done nothing to deserve that title and she is using it to make money in the USA.
“Making a joke of the Monarchy.”
While nother commented: “Completely agree with you. She needs them taken from her and him for that matter.
“They wanted freedom and independence. Give it to them.
“Take their titles and let’s see how far it gets them as that is all they have going for them.”
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan’s earrings had ‘touching tribute to the Queen’
A style expert has said that on Meghan Markle’s first outing with the Queen, she wore earrings that had a “touching tribute” to her majesty.
In June 2018, Meghan went on her first solo trip with the Queen and wore a pair of pearl earrings.
Daena Borrowman, the marketing manager at jewellerybox spoke exclusively to Express.co.uk to discuss Meghan’s outfit.
Daena said: “Meghan paid a touching tribute to the Queen on the day.
“She chose to wear a dainty pair of pearl and diamond drop earrings that happen to be one of her grandmother-in-law’s very first gifts to her.”
- Joseph Gamp
Harry ‘WILL go after’ Camilla & Charles in new book
A royal biographer has claimed that Prince Harry will “go after” Charles and Camilla in his new memoir.
Tina Brown, who was friends with Princess Diana, said that Harry “can’t stand Camilla” and doesn’t want her to be Queen.
She said: “Harry’s not going to go after The Queen, she’s sacrosanct. And he probably won’t go after Kate, who he’s very fond of.
“But he will go after Charles and Camilla and maybe William.
“William has accepted Camilla in terms of what she means to his father’.
“He’s been grown up about it. Harry, on the other hand, can’t stand Camilla. He doesn’t want Camilla to be queen.”
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan & Harry face ‘estrangement’ over UK return
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have been slammed for their failure to return to the UK this year – especially for Prince Philip’s memorial which was held earlier this month.
Speaking about the absence, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams wrote on Twitter: “Harry and Meghan actually face the prospect of, bar her mother, estrangement from both their families which is not ideal for philanthropists!”
Mr Fitzwilliams also described Prince Harry’s decision not to attend his grandfather’s memorial as “extraordinary”.
He said: “You can understand Harry’s position after the terrifying experience with his mother,” but added: “Not attending the service of thanksgiving to Prince Philip was extraordinary.”
- Joseph Gamp
Queen ‘deeply hurt’ as Meghan & Harry choose Holland trip
THE QUEEN is said to be “deeply hurt” after “publicity-hungry” Meghan and Harry chose to go to Holland over Prince Philip’s memorial.
Meghan, 40, will join Harry at his Invictus Games in Holland in her first trip out of America since Megxit – and the pair will be followed around by Netflix cameras.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will both be in The Hague for the opening ceremony of Harry’s games for wounded soldiers on Saturday.
It will be the first time the couple have been together in Europe since Megxit two years ago.
But royal experts have claimed that this is a “snub” to the Queen – after they refused to attend Prince Philip’s memorial just days ago.
And despite it being “unnecessary” for Meghan to be at the Invictus Games, she “wouldn’t want to miss out on the publicity,” it’s been claimed.
Read more here.
- Joseph Gamp
Harry and Meghan told they CAN’T have private armed guards
HARRY and Meghan have been told they CANNOT have private armed security guards on their first trip to Europe since Megxit.
The Duke of Sussex is suing the British government after his taxpayer-funded Met Police armed guards were removed when he quit royal duty.
In High Court papers the duke says he “does not feel safe” in Britain without armed security and says the decision is “unlawful and “unfair” Harry, 37, and Meghan, 40, are believed to have armed protection in the US but are not allowed to use them when they come to Britain.
Last night Dutch authorities said Harry and Meghan’s private close protection officers cannot be armed if they travel to Holland for the Invictus Games this weekend.
The couple are due to be at the opening ceremony in The Hague on Saturday.
The Dutch royal family are expected to attend the games but Harry and Meghan will not be staying at their palaces and there will be no official reception for the duo.
Harry and Meghan are believed to employ armed security from A-list bodyguards to the stars Gavin de Becker when they are in America.
Asked if private guards are allowed to carry weapons in the Netherlands, police spokeswoman Anna Sophia Posthumus said: “No, in the Netherlands only government officials (police, military personnel etc) are allowed to carry weapons”.
- Joseph Gamp
More on Invictus Games competitors Team UK
The 59-strong UK team – 90% of whom will make their Invictus Games debuts – gathered at Brunel University in Uxbridge on Wednesday evening for a team photo ahead of setting off on six coaches with family and friends on Thursday morning.
Team UK will compete in nine sports: athletics, archery, wheelchair basketball, cycling, powerlifting, indoor rowing, wheelchair rugby, swimming, and sitting volleyball, as well as the Jaguar Land Rover Driving Challenge showcase.
Charity Help for Heroes is responsible for the selection, training and welfare of UK competitors.
A couple of weekends ago, Team UK's friends and family cheered them on from the sidelines at a training camp, supported by the Royal British Legion.
- Joseph Gamp
'Emotional week ahead at Invcitus Games' says Team UK captain
The Invictus Games Team UK captain has said there could be an emotional week ahead as the group travel to The Hague to take part in the competition.
The team will be joined in the Netherlands by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for the event, which is taking place from April 16-22 after being delayed by the pandemic.
Harry founded the Invictus Games to aid the rehabilitation of injured or sick military personnel and veterans from across the globe, by giving them the challenge of competing in sporting events similar to the Paralympics.
Team UK captain Rachel Williamson, 33, from Rutland in the East Midlands, said the games "really can change people's lives".
She told the PA news agency: "It's done exactly that for me. And I think probably part of my responsibilities is just to make sure people have that awareness of what could happen or will happen during the games.
"Because it can go by so quickly, and it can be quite an emotional week for everybody for different reasons."
Ms Williamson added: "I just can't wait to see the rest of the team have that first games experience and just see their faces, of how proud they're going to feel of themselves for just doing this."
- Joseph Gamp
Prince Harry ‘can’t stand’ future Queen Camilla
PRINCE Harry will “go after” Charles and Camilla in his explosive memoir, a top royal author has claimed.
Ex-Vanity Fair editor Tina Brown, 68, added that Harry “can’t stand” Camilla and does not want her to be Queen.
She said: “Harry’s not going to go after The Queen, she’s sacrosanct. And he probably won’t go after Kate, who he’s very fond of.
“But he will go after Charles and Camilla and maybe William.”
Tina, who became friends with Princess Diana, said Harry’s publication could be more damaging than his and Meghan’s bombshell Oprah TV interview.
Talking to The Telegraph Magazine, Tina said: “William was disgusted about Meghan’s attack on Kate because she can’t answer back.
“But that’s nothing compared to how furious he’s going to be when this book comes out.”
- Joseph Gamp
‘Figure of fun’
MEGHAN Markle has been branded a “figure of fun” in her hometown, claims a novelist – who, despite this, says Hollywood has turned its back on the royal couple.
Novelist Celia Walden spoke to GB News’ Dan Wootton and said: “I thought maybe people would be protective of her out here, but not at all.
“She’s just a figure of fun and the crucial misstep she made is forgetting that the whole of the US love the Queen. So, anyone who is deemed to have affronted the Queen, or behaved badly in that regard, is just not going to go down well.”
- Joseph Gamp
Meghan caused ‘shudders at palace’
According to a royal expert, Meghan Markle’s pre-wedding interview caused “shudders at the palace”.
Before The Duke and Duchesses wedding, wedding, they hosted the Royal Foundation’s first forum event with Kate Middleton and Prince William.
And, according to the Telegraph, in her new book The Palace Papers, royal author Tina Brown said that Meghan “felt she could get in there and change it all.”
But this comment caused “shudders at the Palace”, where things work at a slower pace.
Ms Brown continued to say: “Frankly, she could have done a great deal to change things had she stuck around, but the thing that’s most baffling is such impatience. She could have spent a year away and come back with a great game plan.”
The royal author also compared Meghan and Princess Diana’s commitment to the royal family and their duty, pointing out, “Diana gave it 16 years.”
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