NEW FEARS OVER PREGNANT MEGHAN’S SAFETY
After security concerns for Meghan Markle in a market in Fiji, royal expert Duncan Larcombe says protection will be ramped up for the duchess
She announced her first pregnancy two weeks ago, just five months after marrying Prince Harry in a lavish ceremony at Windsor Palace. And as Meghan Markle, 37, continues her first overseas tour as a royal, palace aides were forced to step in last week after fearing for her safety.
Harry and Meghan were on the Fiji leg of their 16-day tour of Australia, New Zealand and surrounding Commonwealth countries last week, when Meghan was rushed out of a crowded market place just six minutes into a planned 20-minute walk around.
WHISKED AWAY
Meghan – who was criticised last week after she was pictured wearing a dress with the price tag still on – was seen whispering to her royal aides as she took in the surroundings of the market in Suva, Fiji’s capital. Moments later, Meghan, who was also forced to sit out some of the official events due to “feeling tired”, was escorted through the crowds by her head of security and whisked away.
Royal aides later explained the swift exit was down to “security risk”, due to “far larger crowds” than expected. And royal expert Duncan Larcombe says the palace will be looking into what went wrong on the meticulously planned visit.
He explains, “The palace and security will have visited each place on the tour months ago and assessed it. But they’ve got their maths wrong, and the appetite in Fiji to see Meghan up close is a lot higher than expected.
“Apart from terrorism, kidnappers and lone madmen, the biggest threat to royals on these visits is a stampede in a crowd – it’s something they take very seriously.”
TOP PRIORITY
Duncan adds that the palace will be ramping up local security for the rest of the tour, ensuring that Meghan’s safety remains a top priority.
He adds that Harry, 34, will be making sure everything is being done to protect his wife and unborn child – and it would have been the Prince who convinced Meghan to take time off from the duties last week.
Duncan explains, “Harry obviously wants the tour to be a success, as it’s arguably the biggest royal overseas visit since his parents Charles and Diana took his brother Prince William as a baby on a similar route to Australia, but Meghan and the baby will be his first priority.
“Harry would’ve encouraged Meghan to take a rest and miss a few of their planned engagements. Royals always travel with a doctor on these tours, and I’m certain Meghan will be having daily check-ups – she’s in the best hands possible.”
It’s been reported recently that Prince William’s wife Kate Middleton, 36, has grown close to Meghan, and Duncan says that like Kate – who suffered from severe morning sickness condition hyperemesis gravidarum during her three pregnancies – Meghan will slow down on royal duties as her pregnancy progresses.
Duncan explains, “Kate has very much taken Meghan under her wing. It’s only really Kate who can understand what it’s like for Meghan being pregnant in the spotlight. Kate will be saying, ‘Put your baby first. There are things that are more important than this circus.’”