The Trump-deranged power couple, Prince Harry and his American wife Meghan will have to swallow their pride and ask President Trump if they want help in securing strong security measures in the United States. Will they ask for and receive special security, like Secret Service protection?
The newly non-working royals, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are living in California, having escaped Canada before being stuck there when it was announced the Canadian border with the U.S. would be closed and air travel limited. They hopped aboard a private jet with baby Archie and flew to where they really wanted to be all along – Los Angeles, California.
Even though Harry and his wife aren’t actually fulfilling royal duties anymore, he is still a member of the royal family and that position requires special security measures to ensure his safety along with the safety of his wife and baby. The Queen didn’t kick him out of the family circle, she just cut off his allowance. Hello, Hollywood. Time to put Meg back to work and cash in on some of those sweet entertainment biz checks. Hey, if it’s good enough for Barack and Michelle, why not?
When Harry and Meghan crossed the pond and landed in Canada after turning in their resignation at Buckingham Palace, Canadians caused a stink over being expected to foot the bill for the couple’s security. Canadian taxpayers didn’t want to spring for the cost of providing security for them.
Canadian officials repeatedly said they would not pay for Meghan and Harry’s security when the Sussexes quit the UK and made the move to Canada.
Their protection from the Canadian Royal Mounted Police outside their home in Vancouver was due to cease on the same day that their status as working members of the royal family ends on March 31.
So, they left Canada before the March 31 cut-off date and are now facing the prospect of asking the State Department and President Trump for protection. Due to their new status, the U.S. is not obligated to pay for the protection.
The Megxit process will finally be complete on Tuesday when the couple will stand down as senior Royals.
A royal source said the pair’s stepping down removes any obligation on the US government to pay for their security.
The UK and US have a long standing reciprocal agreement when it comes to bodyguards protecting diplomats and members of the Royal family.
President Trump’s Secret Service agents would have been allowed to carry their weapons on his state visit and likewise bodyguards for the Queen and Prince Charles when they made official trips to the US.
Harry and Meghan are no longer entitled to diplomatic immunity, either. Harry is no longer classified as an international protected person after Megxit. He’ll have to act like a law-abiding person like the rest of Californians. I wonder what President Trump’s response will be if the couple asks for special protection. Will he ok it though no doubt most Americans would be against anything that puts taxpayer dollars on the hook for it? Given both Meghan’s and Harry’s Trump deranged remarks against Trump, it is a little bit of a sweet comeuppance that the conversation is even circulating in the press now. Not only have they relocated to the United States after Meghan saying they wouldn’t as long as Trump is president, but now they might need his help.
‘It will be down to Harry or his Met Police protection officers to ask for help,’ they said.
‘There is a reciprocal agreement between the US that allows protection officers to carry their weapons. But Harry is no longer a serving royal and that is why his protection in Canada from the Mounties was withdrawn.
‘Someone is going to have to ask the State Department, and ultimately the decision rests with Donald Trump, for assistance. Harry cannot live in the US without armed protection.’
The U.K. could always foot the bill. Some royal experts don’t expect Harry to turn to private security firms. When the Daily Mail asked LAPD and California Governor Newsom’s office for comment, neither responded.
Here’s a possible, though unlikely, twist – Harry can easily be granted residence in the U.S. because his wife is an American and he can even apply for an O-visa that would “allow him to work and live in the country until the Green Card is approved.”
As the founder of the Invictus Games Harry could even apply for an O-visa that would allow him to work and live in the country until the Green Card is approved.
The visa category is used by sportsmen, actors and businessmen and each has to demonstrate an outstanding ability in their field.
As the Invictus Games for injured servicemen is known worldwide Harry could claim he meets the criteria for the visa that allows him residency for up to three years.
No matter if the couple gets extra security protection or apply for Harry to get a work visa, I have no doubt they will have little trouble in living their best lives in California, just like they planned all along.
UPDATE: And, just like that, before this was even published, there is a response from President Trump:
I am a great friend and admirer of the Queen & the United Kingdom. It was reported that Harry and Meghan, who left the Kingdom, would reside permanently in Canada. Now they have left Canada for the U.S. however, the U.S. will not pay for their security protection. They must pay!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 29, 2020
And a response from a Clinton-era Never Trumper:
Once a jerk always a jerk. Glad to see you’ve got a lot of extra time on your hands for dealing with this critical issue. You being distracted saves lives. period.
— Joe Lockhart (@joelockhart) March 29, 2020