Meghan under fire after claim she ‘didn’t want to be centre of attention at funeral’
Meghan Markle: TV host discusses Prince Philip funeral decision
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Meghan’s husband Prince Harry is currently quarantining in Frogmore Cottage in preparation for his grandfather’s funeral on Saturday. His wife, who is close to six months pregnant with their second child, avoided the long-haul flight and stayed in their US home on doctor’s orders. Meghan is also said to have told friends that she is not attending the funeral because she “doesn’t want to be the centre of attention”.
Those in the Duchess’ inner circle told news outlets that she and Philip “had a special bond and she adored him”, although Meghan herself has not publicly addressed the Duke’s death.
An insider also alleged: “Meghan said attending or not attending Prince Philip’s funeral isn’t going to change her relationship with the Queen.
“She said the Queen understands her absence and would want her to stay safe and healthy for the baby.”
However, these reports from the MailOnline have stirred up some criticism among royal watchers.
Twitter user @UKRoyalTea claimed: “If you don’t want to be the ‘centre of attention’ you don’t leak numerous stories.”
The account added that many of Philip’s grandchildren had followed the “family plan” of keeping out of the public eye, so that this period of mourning would be focused on the Queen and Philip.
This tweet received more than 1,000 likes and 113 comments in just over 24 hours.
Prince William and Prince Harry had actually released public tributes to their grandfather at the time of this tweet, while Princess Eugenie went on to dedicate an Instagram post to Philip on Wednesday.
Harry also referenced Meghan in his public statement, when he noted: “Meghan, Archie and I (as well as your future great-granddaughter) will always hold a special place for you in our hearts.”
However, some unearthed comments have suggested that Meghan did not actually get the chance to know her grandfather-in-law that well.
Royal biographer, Ingrid Seward, told Us Weekly that Philip often tried to look after the newcomers who married into the Royal Family, including both Princess Diana and Meghan.
She explained: “Because he knows what it’s like to be the new boy on the block or the new girl on the block and suddenly come into this family with all their strange protocols and everything else.
“Philip, being a very intelligent man, he knew how to handle all these newcomers but in return, he expected loyalty, and he expected that they too would have a sense of duty like he had.”
Ms Seward said he was “very welcoming” to Meghan in particular — but noted that by the time she was an official royal, he had retired.
Speaking back in October last year, the biographer said: “So he didn’t see very much of Meghan at all.”
She continued: “He was determined that he was going to go to the wedding because he literally just had a hip operation six weeks before, which is a really good example of him being absolutely determined that whatever happened he was going to walk down that aisle at the wedding and take his seat.”
However, by the time the Sussexes announced they wanted to step back from royal life last January, Philip was reportedly very frustrated.
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Writing in her book, ‘Prince Philip Revealed’, Ms Seward explained: “It must have come as a heavy blow for Prince Philip to know that his grandson would be more or less giving up his homeland and everything he cared about for a life of self-centred celebrity in North America.
“Philip knew leaving was not a decision that Harry made lightly and could not grasp exactly what it was about the family firm that made his grandson’s life so unbearable.”
Even so, Meghan and Harry carefully ruled both Philip and the Queen out of any direct criticism during their dramatic interview with Oprah Winfrey last month.
The Duchess also said she had been straight on the phone to the Queen after hearing that the Duke of Edinburgh had gone into hospital.
Harry himself hinted that their relationship was still strong despite his move when speaking to his friend, the US talk show host James Corden in February.
He shared a funny anecdote about how his grandfather abruptly ended their video calls by closing his laptop, rather than hanging up conventionally.
A source also told the MailOnline that Meghan was willing to let the Sussexes’ ongoing spat with the Royal Family go after Philip’s death.
The source claimed: “Meghan said it’s during these times when family should come together, put their differences aside and unite as one.
“She said this is what Prince Philip would want and that she’s willing to forgive and move forward.”
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