Royal Family News
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s UK trip: A game of royal hide and seek
Today host Karl Stefanovic has once again targeted Meghan Markle, calling the former Suits actress a D-grade celebrity during a live cross with Nine News correspondent Tracey Vaux.
The Channel 9 presenter is an outspoken critic of the Sussexes, slightly misquoting claims made last week by ABC chair Eta Butros on rival morning show Studio 10.
Tracey reported from Manchester, England, where Meghan and Prince Harry are due to attend a youth summit.
She summarised the couple's itinerary in the UK and explained there were no official plans for them to meet with the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, or with the Queen or Prince Charles at Balmoral.
Stefanovic's remark was in response to Eta Butros' claims that the couple had turned into D-grade celebrities.
Tracey acknowledged that there is a real divide in the support for Prince Harry and Meghan, and that some people say they're not welcome in the UK.
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It's even alleged that they're clearing the outside area of the venue an hour and a half before a speech, so they won't have to hear the public booing them.
It's believed that the couple is staying at their former home of Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estate, just a stone's throw from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge's new home at Adelaide Cottage.
They reportedly turned down the use of a private jet after being heavily criticised for doing so in the past, instead flying commercial.
Their first visit comes just days after Meghan gave an explosive and wide-ranging interview to The Cut in which she said it takes a lot of effort to forgive and hinted that she can say anything.
Royal expert Christopher Anderson described Harry and Meghan's trip as a game of royal hide and seek.
Anderson said, “It's going to be interesting in the next few days when Harry and Meghan go to Europe and they're going to be playing royal hide and seek.
The Cambridges are out of the way during the first part of the Sussexes trip to Britain, but on September the 8th the Sussexes return to Britain from Germany.
They're going to be literally a brief stroll from each other on the grounds of Windsor because the Cambridges have to return in time to get their kids in school.
It's going to have all the markings of an old-fashioned farce with these people trying to avoid each other.”
The visit also coincides with a protection row that has seen the Sussexes hire their own bodyguards for the trip because British police will not provide them with security.
Meghan is reportedly unhappy about this as she loves the police escort, zipping through red lights, and being surrounded by cops with guns as if she's really important.
This won't look good for their Netflix reality show.
It's reported that Prince Charles has extended an open invitation to Prince Harry despite Markle saying their relationship was lost.
The couple is always welcome to stay with the Prince of Wales.
A close friend described how Charles has once again tried to bring his son back into the fold.
The insider said, “He hasn't wavered despite the attacks, which seem to be coming with increased vigour.
The Prince of Wales reiterated his invitation for Harry and Meghan and the whole family if they wished to come and stay with him this summer while he's at his home in the Balmoral estate.
He thought it might be a good opportunity for everyone to take stock and relax, but the invitation was declined.”
Despite the ongoing rumours of tension between the Sussexes and the rest of the royal family, it's clear that Prince Charles is still trying to extend an olive branch.