Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s return to Britain has already encountered an unexpected problem after their children were pulled from their new school just days into the term.
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet had barely settled in before concerns surrounding their daily commute due to “horrific traffic” forced the Sussexes to reconsider their plans.
While Harry and Meghan acted quickly to find an alternative for the kids, a royal expert believes the difficulty could have been avoided before the children started school.
What was supposed to mark the beginning of Archie and Lilibet’s new school life in Britain was cut short after only two days.
Harry and Meghan withdrew their children after their security team raised concerns about safely managing their journey to and from the school.
According to Page Six, the distance from the Sussexes’ current residence, combined with heavy traffic around the school, created difficulties for their private protection team.
The problem was made more complicated by Archie and Lilibet being different ages and following separate schedules.
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield said the journey could take about 45 minutes and potentially had to be made four times each day. She was told that anyone attempting the school run would need “the patience of a saint” because of the traffic.
The setback has forced Harry and Meghan to change course much earlier than expected. However, they have since acted quickly to place Archie and Lilibet in another school as the children continue adjusting to their new life in Britain.
Expert Says The Sussexes Should Have Seen The Problem Coming Due To Warning Signs
While safety was ultimately behind the decision, Schofield questioned why the logistical difficulties were not identified before Archie and Lilibet started attending the school.
The royal commentator told Page Six that “None of these logistical problems are a surprise, when I was speaking to people locally about the original school, one of the first things I was warned about was the horrific traffic.”
Schofield believes the situation reflects a tendency by the Sussexes to make decisions that always create avoidable difficulties.
“This is another example of Harry and Meghan appearing to choose the more complicated route and then discovering that the complications are difficult to manage,” she said.
However, crisis communications expert Ryan McCormick offered another perspective. He suggested the couple’s actions could simply come from legitimate concerns about protecting Archie and Lilibet.
According to him, Harry and Meghan’s high profile means every one of their family decisions is likely to attract intense scrutiny.
- Prince Harry’s pals claim he’s “still angry” with the royals, “expects an apology.”
- Why Prince William is “not happy Harry is back in the UK at all.”
- William is likely to skip upcoming royal family event to avoid Harry and Meghan.
- Harry lost “direct contact” with his dad after “heated” call over “private citizen” label.
- Harry and Meghan “expect to be let back in” to royal life after UK return.
- Meghan fears she and Harry are not “welcomed” after a “disappointing” UK reception.
The school setback has attracted additional attention because Harry has spent years arguing that his family needs stronger protection while in Britain. The duke lost his automatic police security after stepping back from royal duties with Meghan in 2020.
The school issue has once again brought attention to Harry’s concerns about his family’s security in Britain.
“Harry has spent years making the case that his family requires a greater level of security in Britain,” Schofield said. She questioned why a professional security operation did not identify the potential difficulties before the school term began.
The latest situation comes as security remains particularly important to the Sussexes following their move back to the U.K. Harry has also previously maintained that adequate protection is essential for his family. (The BLAST)
