Harry and Meghan party ‘like tycoons’ on French Riviera
PRINCE Harry whisked his fiancee Meghan Markle to Monaco by private helicopter to see in the New Year – after flying economy to the south of France.
Just weeks after announcing their engagement the romantic prince treated Meghan to a whistlestop stay in the tax haven principality.
And while a luxurious retreat close to the exclusive casinos might be out of reach for most, they travelled to Nice airport just like any other couple in love, before boarding their helicopter.
The royal couple were thought to have boarded a scheduled British Airways plane on New Year’s Eve.
They then headed straight to the back with startled passengers claiming they took up three rows of seats with little leg room, either side of the aisle next to the toilets.
Dressed in casual jeans and a jacket Harry, 33, sat next to the window with a baseball cap pulled over his face, while bride-to-be Meghan, 36, wore a black beanie hat with minimal make-up. They were accompanied by three “edgy and nervous” bodyguards.
Fortune
Their sojourn was one of the last chances they have to spend some time alone before a series of official engagements leading up to their wedding in May.
A fellow traveller on the same flight from Heathrow said the aircraft took off several minutes early and shaved 20 minutes off its usual two-hour flight time.
It is understood Harry and Meghan, who are already back in London, made a last-minute decision to see in the New Year with friends in the Mediterranean where the weather over the last weekend of the year was a pleasant 59F (15C).
They are thought to have included Prince Albert and his wife, Princess Charlene.
A source on the Riviera said: “Harry and Meghan were somewhere very private and very expensive. Monte Carlo is party central at this time of the year and the word is that the British royals really enjoyed themselves.
“The fun could well have been laid on by Prince Albert, who is a close friend of Harry’s.
“What’s certain is that they were partying like tycoons on New Year’s Day. Fun around Monaco is never understated and always costs a fortune.”
Prince Albert, 59, has already dispensed relationship advice to Harry and Meghan. Like cable TV icon Meghan, Albert’s mother Grace Kelly was an American actress. Grace won an Oscar before marrying Prince Rainier of Monaco and becoming Princess Grace. Albert himself married former South African Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, now Princess Charlene, 39.
The source added: “Charlene would have a lot in common with Meghan and the pair would have much to talk about. Both are relative unknowns who are now royal stars on the world stage. Meghan would learn a lot by listening to Charlene. The Princess Grace story will also appeal to Meghan – Grace was a beautiful American who charmed everybody when she became a royal.”
Harry and Meghan spent two nights in Monaco and were then seen boarding a helicopter again at 11am yesterday.
The Prince’s frugal flying is a world away from his hygieneconscious father Prince Charles, who reportedly takes a lavatory seat covered in soft, white kid leather everywhere he goes.
But in flying on a budget, Harry echoed his brother who in 2014 shunned the comforts of first class for a seat in economy during a flight from Washington DC where he had met President Obama at the White House.
IT WOULD appear that on their New Year trip to the Riviera Prince Harry and Meghan Markle met Prince Albert of Monaco. A better confidant it is hard to imagine.
Albert’s mother, Grace Kelly, gave up a Hollywood career to marry into royalty, just as Meghan is doing.
We are sure the Prince had some pretty sound advice.