Prince Harry's UK trip fuels speculation: Will Meghan and children join him amid security row?

Prince Harry's return to the UK for a series of charity events has ignited a media frenzy, with intense speculation surrounding whether his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, will accompany him.

The British press is abuzz with anticipation, focusing not just on Harry's official engagements but on the potential reunion of the family with King Charles III. However, the children's attendance hinges on security arrangements. Harry, who served in the British army, is seeking state-funded protection for his family, a request that a government committee has reportedly refused.

This security issue has been a persistent obstacle for Harry and Meghan since they relocated to North America six years ago. British authorities maintain that Harry, no longer a working royal, is not entitled to automatic taxpayer-funded security and that his family's protection will be assessed case-by-case, similar to other celebrities. Harry, conversely, argues that his family remains a target due to their royal status and that it is unsafe for his children to travel to Britain without adequate security.

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With just days to go until Harry’s first public engagement in the UK on Tuesday ... very little is guaranteed at all.

The decision regarding state-funded protection rests with a government committee known as Ravec. The outcome could have implications for the royal family, particularly in light of recent negative headlines concerning Prince Andrew and his association with Jeffrey Epstein. The government and the royal family are reportedly concerned about potential public backlash if taxpayers are asked to fund security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Adding to the high-stakes atmosphere, Harry is also awaiting a verdict in his invasion of privacy lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The judge's decision in this case is expected on Tuesday, further intensifying the media spotlight on the prince's visit.

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For Archie and Lilibet to meet the king, it’s now or never.