Meghan security panic probe
Harry wants answers after chaotic scenes
PRINCE Harry is expected to demand an explanation over safety fears that resulted in pregnant wife Meghan being bundled out of a crowded market in Fiji yesterday.
The Duchess of Sussex, 37, had visited the indoor site in capital Suva as part of their royal tour while the Duke, 34, was 30 miles away in a rainforest.
Meghan was seen to whisper in one aide’s ear seconds before she entered the “hot and humid” environment, where people were packed in waiting to see her.
Witnesses said she looked “flustered” and “afraid” inside and was whisked away just eight minutes into her scheduled 20-minute visit. People had waited four hours to see her and many clambered on tables and chairs. Kensington Palace aides told the Mirror she was pulled out due to “crowd control issues”.
Bodyguard Ken Wharfe, who worked for Harry’s mother Princess Diana, said he believed the security situation was “chaotic”. After examining video clips of the incident, he claimed “the very basic elements of personal protection were found to be wanting”.
A royal source said Harry, 34, will have been “deeply concerned” and the Mirror understands Meghan’s close protection officer and Kensington Palace staff met after the scare. A source said: “The event was cut short due to the large number
of people within the market, which made the event uncomfortably busy. There were much bigger crowds than people had been anticipating.”
Vendor Asenaca Salusalu, 50, who saw Meghan, said: “She didn’t really speak at all, like she SHOCK Harry was in rainforest was a bit afraid. But I’m happy to have met her.” On-the-scene Mirror photographer Ian Vogler said: “It was crowded, really cramped. The alleyways were narrow and I could understand why Meghan’s protection officers would judge it an unsafe environment, especially with her being pregnant. It was also very hot and humid and there were a lot of people in very close quarters to the Duchess. Unfortunately, it was just not a safe environment.”
Meghan had been due to speak to female vendors about women’s empowerment and many were part of the UN project Markets for Change. Harry was
in the Colo-i-Suva rainforest planting an endangered native tree for the Queen’s Canopy Project during the scare.
Meghan did not go due to the risk to their baby from the Zika virus. Kensington Palace would not comment.
The Duchess has missed several events on the 16-day tour Down Under. She skipped the Invictus road cycling contest in Sydney on Sunday and a rainforest trek on Fraser Island on Monday.
Palace aides previously said “she’s not sick, just resting after feeling tired”.
The Duke and Duchess today visit Nadi, western Fiji, to unveil a statue of Sgt Talaiasi Labalaba – a British-Fijian soldier killed in the Battle of Mirbat in 1972 – before flying on to Tonga.
She didn’t really speak, like she was afraid. But I’m happy to meet her ASENACA SALUSALU ON MEETING MEGHAN