The Duke and Duchess of Sussex not allowed to ride on Air Force One after queen’s funeral

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were reportedly not allowed to catch a ride on President Joe Biden’s Air Force One after the Queen’s funeral.

Reports say the 38 year old Prince Harry, and his 41 year old former ‘Suits’ actress wife Meghan have asked if they could travel back to the US on the aircraft before the White House denied the request.

It is said that the major concern was that allowing the couple on the flight could cause offence to the royal family following the couple’s accusations of racism within its ranks and the publication of Harry’s controversial memoir ‘Spare’ which laid bare his turbulent relationships with his dad King Charles and older brother Prince William, 41.

The Daily Mail reported that the claim came from multiple current and former officials in the Biden administration, as well as the British government. As the idea was a “non-starter”, sources revealed that there was barely any discussion of the couple travelling on Air Force One after the queen’s funeral in September after her death aged 96.

An insider also mentioned how the ride would’ve caused commotion. “It would have strained relations with the Palace and the new king.” – the source added. Apparently there was also a concern about how the cost of them travelling on board the plane could have been justified to US taxpayers.

Andy Barr who is the crisis communications specialist said he believes the apparent snub from the White House was a way to “keep a bit of distance from the couple” following Harry’s “security-staff-drama” in the UK that saw him lose his fight in May to bring a legal challenge against the Home Office over its refusal to allow him to pay for police protection while in Britain.

Barr also mentioned that the duke and his wife, who gave up senior royal duties as part of their infamous ‘Megxit’ deal to move to America: “Harry and Meghan forgot the golden rule of giving up a globally respected royal title: you become just like us ordinary folk… Biden’s team would have been worried about the optics, and the precedence it would have set, for other A-Listers. If he had said ‘Yes’, where would it end? Giving a Kardashian a lift to their next Instagram shoot?

“Biden and his team are probably also still smarting over the fall out some time ago from their getting embroiled in the security-staff-drama and will be keen to try and keep a bit of distance from the couple.”

Main Image: News24

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