THE Queen may never meet her grandaughter Lilibet after Prince Harry’s security row, an expert has said – as fears grow over whether the Sussexes will attend her platinum jubilee.
It’s feared the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may miss celebrations for Her Majesty’s 70th year on the throne after representatives for Harry said it was “unsafe” for his family to return to the UK.
Harry plans to sue the Government to give him back the security he lost in the UK after quitting royal duties.
He is seeking round-the-clock security from the force — normally reserved for royals and government officials — when he and his US-based family visit.
But according to royal biographer Phil Dampier, the legal battle could be provide an excuse for the couple not to return to the UK – and may even result in the Queen never meeting her granddaughter.
Mr Dampier told the Sun Online: “I don’t think Meghan will ever come back to this country and I think this is a very good excuse for not coming back – I don’t think realistically [Harry] expects to win this case.
“Getting his protection reinstated would set a precedent and so it gives them the perfect opportunity to say we can’t come to platinum jubilee celebrations.
“Harry might come over, but it gives Meghan a good excuse not to come and also not to bring the children – which will be very sad because the queen at 95, nearly 96, it’s a big possibility she’s never going to meet her granddaughter Lilibet and has only ever met Archie once or twice.”
The Queen has not yet met her namesake, who was born in California on June 4 last year, in person.
Harry returned to the UK alone for the unveiling of his mother Diana’s statue shortly after Lilibet’s arrival, with Meghan staying in the US to look after their two children.
And with the duke increasingly concerned about the security of his family while in the UK, it’s possible Her Majesty may never get the chance to meet her grandaughter.
A legal representative for Harry said: “Prince Harry inherited a security risk at birth, for life.
“He remains sixth in line to the throne, served two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan, and in recent years his family has been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats.
“While his role within the institution has changed, his profile as a member of the royal family has not. Nor has the threat to him and his family.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed whilst in the UK.
“In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home.”
Asked if Harry and Meghan could come over to celebrate the Queen’s platinum jubilee, Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “He almost certainly will.
“But if this isn’t resolved by then well then his family won’t.
“The Sussexes are unpredictable and to predict what is going to happen here, I don’t know.”
