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Prince Harry's decision not to travel from California to the UK to attend his late uncle's funeral has caused much speculation and controversy. Lord Fellowes, who passed away at the age of 82, was married to Harry's aunt Jane Fellowes, the younger sister of his late mother Princess Diana. Lord Fellowes also held the esteemed position of private secretary to Queen Elizabeth II for many years.
Despite the close family connection, Harry has cited logistical and security issues with making the 5,459 mile trip from his home in Montecito, California to attend the funeral in the UK. Some key points to consider in this situation:
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- Since stepping back from their senior royal roles in 2020, Harry and Meghan have relied on private security instead of protection from UK taxpayer funds. Organizing private security for international travel, especially with little notice of events like a funeral, presents challenges.
- Under UK law, Harry would need to inform British officials of any travel plans at least 28 days in advance. As the funeral was not a scheduled event, this timeline would be difficult to meet.
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- A source close to Harry told publications that international travel and navigating security arrangements has become a "logistical nightmare" for his team due to ongoing issues.
- While security is cited as a barrier, the timing of Harry's announcement deciding not to come does raise eyebrows. Was he even invited to the funeral by other family members in the first place?
- It's been speculated that Harry and his uncle were not especially close and may not have been in regular contact in recent years. Some see this as an opportunity for Harry to garner sympathy.
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Adding to the controversy is the fact that just a few weeks after bypassing the UK funeral, Harry and Meghan will be traveling to Colombia for undisclosed reasons. Colombia presents far more safety and security risks than the UK based on travel advisories. This begs the question - if security is truly the main barrier, why has Colombia been deemed an acceptable destination but not a family funeral in Harry's home country?
Colombia currently faces a level 3 travel warning from the US State Department, citing civil unrest and threats from drug cartels and criminal groups. Some of the specific dangers called out include kidnapping, terrorism, violence related to drug trafficking and threats toward LGTBQ individuals. Level 4 warnings, which advise against all travel, have been issued for certain volatile regions.
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Why has a country with such palpable dangers suddenly become suitable for a royal vacation, when attending a funeral with full royal family security support in London was too challenging? While Colombia could provide opportunities for charitable projects or filming deals as Harry establishes his post-royal career, the timing immediately after skipping his uncle's funeral does suggest the couple is prioritizing their personal interests over family.
It fuels speculation that this was a strategic choice made not due to security, but rather to court sympathy as victims still struggling after their royal exile. In fact, Harry and Meghan have shown an uncanny ability to turn even solemn family occasions into opportunities to broadcast their grievances with the monarchy to the global media.
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At a time when the rest of the family is grieving the loss of Lord Fellowes, all the focus has shifted to debates over whether Harry was rightly excluded or is using security as an excuse. Either way, like so many situations involving the Sussexes, a funeral that should be about remembering one man's life has been hijacked into fueling the never-ending drama surrounding their departure from the royal institution.
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Only Harry knows his true reasons for staying away, but by all outward signs, prioritizing a vacation in a dangerous foreign country over paying respects to his late uncle at a highly secured event in his home nation suggests priorities may have strayed from family in favor of public image and career moves. Time will tell if this decision further damages Harry's already strained relationship with the Windsor clan.
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