Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's 'request' to hitch a ride on Air Force One was 'denied'
The reported incident happened in 2022Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were rejected from hitching a lift with Air Force One, it was previously reported.
The incident allegedly happened back in 2022, after the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II. It has now been three years since the world bid final farewell to the beloved monarch.
Prince Harry and Meghan’s ‘Air Force One request denied’
Back in September 2022, following the late queen’s funeral in London, Meghan and Harry reportedly requested to hitch a lift back to America with Joe Biden on Air Force One.
Former president Biden and his wife, Jill, were in the UK at the time, having attended the Queen’s funeral.
However, Meghan and Harry’s request was reportedly quickly rebuffed by the White House.
Speaking to the Daily Mail at the time, a source claimed that the request was a “non-starter” and that there was barely any discussion on the matter.
“It would have caused such a commotion. It would have strained relations with the palace and the new king,” another source added.
Why couldn’t Harry and Meghan fly on Air Force One?
The president has the right to invite anyone on to Air Force One. However, giving Harry and Meghan a lift back to America would have raised some questions over who would have paid for the duke and duchess to be passengers on the plane.
The US government pays for the president’s official trips on the plane. However, Meghan and Harry aren’t American officials.
President Biden paid for his children and grandchildren to fly aboard the plane, the Democrat party paid for any travel to campaign events, and news organisations pay for journalists who travel aboard the plane to cover the president’s activities.
Royal Insider has contacted the Sussexes’ representatives for comment.
Harry at the queen’s funeral
Today, (September 19) makes the third anniversary of the queen’s funeral.
As one of the queen’s grandchildren, Prince Harry played an important role in the funeral.
The Duke of Sussex had been in the UK for some charity work by coincidence when the queen passed away in Scotland. The duke didn’t manage to reach Balmoral in time for the queen’s death; however, he was able to be with his family in the immediate aftermath.
The duke, Meghan, Prince William, and Kate Middleton famously joined forces to greet well-wishers outside Windsor Castle two days after the queen’s passing.
On the day of the funeral, Prince Harry walked alongside Prince William in the procession. However, due to no longer being a working royal, the duke wasn’t permitted to wear military garb like the other royals, despite having served in active war zones during his time in the army. Prince Andrew was also not allowed to wear his military outfit. Both princes donned a black suit instead.
At the funeral service in Windsor, Prince Harry and Meghan sat behind King Charles and Queen Camilla. William, Kate, and their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte were also in the first row.
Three years on from her death, Prince Harry visited his late grandmother’s grave during a recent visit to the UK.
Read more: Prince Harry wants to educate Archie and Lilibet in the UK so they don’t ‘miss out’
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