Royal Family: Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle, and More | Showbiz Cheat Sheet

Meghan Markle Is ‘Under Pressure’ to Make a Major Decision As She Continues to ‘Fight Back’ Against the Royal Family

Julia Mullaney — Mon, 19 Aug 2024 01:01:43 +0000

Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, have not had the easiest transition out of the royal family. While the two felt it was important to tell their story, they received harsh backlash for interviews, the Netflix documentary, and even Harry’s memoir, “Spare.” But with all of that divulging — and criticism — came a lot of money and probably some relief for the couple. Now, as their reputation isn’t what they hoped it would be by now, Meghan is facing a big decision in her “fight” against the royals.

Meghan Markle | Mark Cuthbert/UK Press/Getty Images

Meghan Markle is ‘under pressure’ to write a memoir

If Meghan wrote a memoir, would you read it? It’s been a question on royal fans’ minds since Harry first announced that he would be writing one. Rumors have swirled for quite a while that Meghan could eventually write a book of her own, and her recent words in a CBS interview have people thinking more than ever that she could write one. While speaking to Jane Paul for CBS Sunday Morning, Meghan revealed that she haven’t “really scraped the surface” on what happened to her in the royal family — words that led everyone to wonder if she ever will.

Now, a source close to the duchess claims she is “under pressure” to write a memoir of her own. The Independent reports that a source told Closer Magazine that Harry and Meghan “are now being forced to figure out a strategy to fight back, and one option on the table is to go all-out with a big tell-all from Meghan where she completely lays out her side of the story.” Meghan has not specified whether or not a tell-all is on the table; it’s purely alleged sources and general public whispers that have suggested it.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will not return to the United Kingdom

Meghan has seemingly made little effort to patch things up with the royals since she and Harry stepped down in 2020, and they have not done anything, either (though it’s possible conversations have happened behind the scenes that the public doesn’t know about). At this point, it doesn’t look like Meghan will ever return to the UK given the Sussexes’ security situation.

Harry has said that the security setup in the UK is not enough to protect his family and that he will not bring them over there until he has more adequate protection. At this point, unless that happens, it appears Meghan will not be taking any steps to improve their relationship with the other royals.

The Royal Who Came up With the ‘Recollections May Vary’ Response After Prince Harry and Meghan’s Oprah Interview Wasn’t Queen Elizabeth

Michelle Kapusta — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 23:00:00 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s sit-down with Oprah Winfrey is still one of the most-talked-about interviews over the last few years. Most royal watchers agree that there were no winners after the duke and duchess aired out the royal family’s dirty laundry. They made some damning allegations, including one about a senior royal asking about Prince Archie’s skin color before he was even born.

But the Sussexes didn’t succeed in their quest to take down the monarchy. While they did tarnish the family’s reputation a bit, they opened themselves up to ridicule as well. Many comedians and late show hosts began mocking the couple. And who can forget South Park‘s popular “We Want Privacy” episode about them?

Something else that came out of that televised interview that Harry and Meghan never expected was a response from the royal family and the now-famous line “recollections may vary.” Here’s who actually came up with that as it wasn’t Queen Elizabeth.

The royal family’s 61-word response to Prince Harry and Meghan’s bombshell interview

Oprah Winfrey sitting across from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle as she interviews them for CBS special | Harpo Productions, Joe Pugliese via Getty Images

The royals were reportedly blindsided when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex did that primetime interview with Oprah in March 2021, one year after they stepped down as working royals. There were reports that it left the late queen broken-hearted, Prince William unable to eat, and then-Prince Charles furious.

Several reports claimed that Harry’s father was so upset he wanted to issue a very detailed rebuttal right away, disputing each line that he believed the Sussexes lied about. Queen Elizabeth, however, wanted to take a different approach and wait before she made any final decision.

After conversing with her press staff and senior royals, she finally agreed to release a response to Harry and Meghan’s allegations.

A 61-word statement, which came nearly 48 hours after the interview first aired, read: “The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan. The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan, and Archie will always be much loved family members.”

The Princess of Wales is the person who came up with the famous line

Kate Middleton watches a flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour | Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

Many believed that the “recollections may vary” line came directly from the queen, but it didn’t. According to author and historian Robert Lacey, the royal who came up with and was adamant about the line being included in the response statement was the now-Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton).

Meghan spoke about her sister-in-law in the interview and gave her version of what happened during a bridesmaid fitting saying Kate made her cry, not the other way around. Whether true or not, the princess certainly would have been taken aback that her personal business was being put out there for the world to hear.

Express noted that Lacey said: “The original draft of the statement had been much milder, but both William and Catherine had been keen to toughen it up. It was the then-Duchess of Cambridge herself who came up with the powerful phrase ‘recollections may vary.'”

Royal expert Tessa Dunlop told The Mirror: “It turned out that the bridesmaid squabble was just the tip of the iceberg. And now we discover it was Kate who doggedly insisted Buckingham Palace punch back with that famous phrase ‘some recollections may vary.’ While it is unclear which private secretary inserted the vital line, Kate pressed for its retention, insisting ‘history will judge this statement.’”

Prince William Is ‘Sick’ of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle Making Kate Middleton ‘Anxious,’ Insiders Claim

Julia Mullaney — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 21:31:40 +0000

Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, have not had a strong relationship with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in years. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down from their royal roles back in 2020, but rumors about tensions between the couples started a while before that.

Since leaving, Harry and Meghan have told their side of the story, which has only added stress. And with Kate having gone through cancer treatment in 2024, William is reportedly “sick and tired” of the anxiety that the feud has caused his wife.

Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and Kate Middleton | Paul Grover/WPA Pool/Getty Images

Prince William and Kate Middleton aren’t close with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

When the two couples first met, it seemed like there was potential. Of course, Meghan and Kate had lived very different lives up until that point, but they both carried themselves as ambitious, strong women navigating the royal scene. However, when William and Harry had a falling out between 2018 and 2019, things between Meghan and Kate went south as well.

These days, tensions have only built between William and his brother — to the point where insiders say the brothers don’t speak. Now, a source close to William and Kate claims that Kate is “anxious” any time Harry and Meghan take their next move, and William is over it.

“William was sick and tired of seeing how triggered and anxious Kate would become every time Meghan and Harry would do or say something that negatively impacted them — no matter how subtle — and as soon as he suggested it, Kate agreed it was vital for them all,” a source told Heatworld, according to Marie Claire, referring to William suggesting that he and Kate stop mentioning Harry and Meghan in conversation altogether.

William and Kate are currently vacationing with their family at Balmoral, and the two have allegedly created a “self-imposed ban” on any discussions around the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are enjoying time away from the spotlight

Kate has been out of the spotlight for most of this year for health reasons, but now, the two are enjoying some time away with the family as they do every year at Balormal. It’s essentially a recess for the royals; they don’t make any major appearances during these last few weeks of summer as they reconnect with each other and enjoy some family time.

William and Kate have vowed to put their family first, and they have stuck to that by giving their three children (Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis) the most normal lives possible. The three children are William and Kate’s priority in addition to Kate’s health, and they seemingly are putting Harry and Meghan out of their minds.

Meghan Markle’s Former Staffer Says They Would Never Work For Her Again ‘If Given the Chance’

Julia Mullaney — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 19:03:05 +0000

Meghan Markle’s time in the royal family was short-lived, but the Duchess of Sussex certainly made headlines. Many people admired Meghan for her ambitious attitude and successful career, but stories about the duchess swirled to the point where people started to question her personality. And while in the royal family, complaints surfaced that Meghan was harsh to her staffers — there were even bullying accusations. Now, one former staffer has come forward and revealed something very “telling” about working for the duchess.

Meghan Markle | Kola Sulaimon/AFP/Getty Images

Meghan Markle’s former staffer says employees would never work for her again

It’s hard to know exactly what went on behind the scenes at Harry and Meghan’s office during their time in the royal family. Some accusations have surfaced that Meghan was a bit of a demanding boss, but that could also be blamed on the differences in work-life balance between the United States, where Meghan was born and raised, and the United Kingdom.

Recently, though a former staffer revealed what they felt was “telling” about employees who worked for the Duchess of Sussex. “What may be most telling is that the entire time I worked there, I don’t think I heard a single current or former employee on their staff say they would take the job again if given the chance,” a previous staffer told Daily Mail, according to The Independent.

The staffer added that the employees that were hired to work for Meghan were ones with strong experience. “These aren’t employees they had just found off the streets,” they said. “Many of them are people who had previously excelled working for demanding bosses in high-performance companies and environments.”

Ultimately, Meghan’s royal office dissolved when she and Harry stepped down, but ever since, her former employees have been slowly speaking out about their experiences.

When Meghan and Harry left the family, they spoke more openly about their experiences as royals. Harry came out with a memoir, the couple sat down with Oprah, and they even collaborated on a Netflix documentary. But recently, Meghan suggested that she still has more to tell.

While speaking with Jane Pauley of CBS Sunday Morning, Meghan revealed that she had hardly “scraped the surface” of what she went through as a royal. The statement suggested that Meghan could eventually talk more about what happened to her, though it seems that there are two sides to every story. Harry did not comment when Meghan made that reveal. As of now, it’s hard to say what Meghan’s current staff members feel toward the duchess, but it’s possible people who work for her today are more used to her work ethic.

Meghan Markle’s First Temper Tantrum ‘Horrified’ Kate and Was the Beginning of the End for Their Relationship

Michelle Kapusta — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 22:35:00 +0000

Once upon a time, royal fans thought that Meghan Markle and the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) had bonded because of their unique experiences marrying two of the most prominent members of Britain’s royal family. But the world later learned that the two women never really get along.

Now, a royal author is detailing something the Duchess of Sussex reportedly did early on that put a dagger in any chance of the ladies having a good relationship.

Meghan’s ‘foot-stamping’ incident with one of Kate’s staffers

Before the bridesmaid dress drama ahead of Meghan and Prince Harry’s wedding that we’ve all heard about countless times, there was another incident in which Meghan’s actions really stunned her sister-in-law.

Meghan Markle and Kate Middleton attend the Royal Foundation Forum | CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images

Royal expert Tom Quinn, who authored the book Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir from Queen Mary to Meghan Markle, spoke to former and current Kensington Palace staffers about the princess and duchess’s relationship.

Quinn told the Daily Star: “Meghan and Harry were living in what’s called Nottingham Cottage and it’s probably the only bit that you genuinely really could say, is actually quite small. And so I think that reminded Meghan that she was, as it were, second place or as the runner-up.

“So when Harry and Will got together and sometimes Meghan and Kate as well, because there was this tension occasionally, famously Meghan lost her temper with a member of Kate’s staff in front of Kate. And it was that incident, that I was told by someone who was actually there, who said it was really uncomfortable because Meghan just lost it with this person.”

Meghan Markle at the Wimbledon Tennis Championships | Karwai Tang/WireImage

Quinn continued: “The reason she lost it with Kate’s member of staff was that she, Meghan, didn’t feel that this person was giving her the sort of attention she deserved. It was almost as if in that one encounter it encapsulated for Meghan the problem that she had, that she’s No. 2.

“[Meghan] was very successful coming into this alien environment where people behave towards you according to where you are in the status of who becomes king or queen next, that’s just alien to her. The way it was described to me was, there were raised voices and foot-stamping.”

The duchess’s actions left the princess ‘upset’ and ‘horrified’

This isn’t the first time we’ve heard about Meghan’s alleged confrontations with Palace staffers but Quinn claimed that this particular incident left Kate very “upset.”

Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle in the Royal Box on Centre Court during the Wimbledon Tennis Championships | Karwai Tang/Getty Images

Quinn elaborated further explaining: “Meghan asked this person, I know who it was but I can’t say because it will give away my source, who works for Kate who was basically asked to do something by Meghan and said, ‘I’m really sorry I can’t do that because I work for Kate.’ And Meghan really felt she had been slightly put in her place because if you become a princess you kind of assume that staff. When you ask them to do something they are going to do it.”

The author added: “[Kate] was horrified. She was really upset because she’s very fond of this particular member of staff and she thought that Meghan almost bowling out this person was just completely unacceptable. [Meghan’s] very sensitive about not being treated with the same respect that she feels Kate is, so she can react badly and doesn’t take it lying down.”

Meghan and Harry have always denied the numerous reports that the duchess “bullied” Palace staffers.

Kate Middleton’s ‘Huge Move’ Proves She’s ‘Very Comfortable’ With the Royal Family

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 19:02:10 +0000

Kate Middleton has been a member of the royal family since she married Prince William in 2011, but the Princess of Wales has known the royals since she and William started dating way back in 2002. William and Kate have been together for more than two decades, and as Kate has grown, she’s adapted tremendously to her royal role.

This year has been a tough one for the princess, who announced back in March that she had been diagnosed with cancer and was receiving treatment. But a “huge move” shows just how close Kate has become to the royal family.

Kate Middleton | Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

Kate Middleton’s ‘huge move’ shows she is ‘comfortable’ with the royals

Kate disappeared from the spotlight back in December 2023, just after her Christmas Day appearance. The princess was absent for three months, which prompted many people to question her whereabouts and wonder if she was alright. Ultimately, Kate released a video announcement in March 2024 revealing that she had been diagnosed with cancer. Since then, she has made very few public appearances, only attending King Charles’ Trooping the Colour ceremony and Wimbledon.

As Kate continues her recovery, she is now taking some time away to enjoy Balmoral with her family — and it’s a “huge move” for the future queen. “This is a huge move,” said royal commentator Angela Levin, according to The Independent. “Not only because she is obviously not well yet, but it shows she feels very comfortable with the royal family.”

Levin continued, “She is very happy with the king and the queen and she knows they will understand if she has to rest. She can say what she likes and be warmed. I think it’s wonderful she can do that. The children will be delighted also.”

Kate Middleton won’t return to her royal duties yet

Kate and her husband, Prince William, have always put their family and health first. Kate’s cancer diagnosis proves that as much as she values her royal role, she understands what is more important. William and Kate are trying to raise a family all while preparing to be the future king and queen, and Kate knows that right now, she has the ability to take any time that she needs away from the spotlight.

Initially, there were rumors that Kate would return to royal duties after summer ended, but now, it’s hard to say. There has been no word of the princess taking on a greater number of royal events once the fall starts, but time will tell.

Lip Reader Reveals What Meghan Markle Commanded Prince Harry to Do on Camera During Colombia Trip

Michelle Kapusta — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 16:31:00 +0000

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s Colombia trip is in full swing as the couple began their four-day visit to the South American country on Aug. 15.

This trip has garnered a lot of attention, which is what the duke and duchess intended. But they didn’t want cameras capturing anything that made things look off even for a second. Now, a lip reader is revealing what Meghan had to tell Harry when he forgot to do something everyone is so used to seeing from them.

Lip-reading expert catches Meghan’s 1-word demand for Prince Harry as cameras rolled

The couple’s entire trip is of course planned out thoroughly with an iron-clad itinerary. Some of the Sussexes’ actions also appear to be completely planned, rehearsed, and orchestrated for the cameras. In fact, a lip-reading expert saw Meghan give Harry a command when he didn’t do what he was supposed to when he was supposed to.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle pose for photo with Vice President Francia Márquez and her partner, Yerney Pinillo, during visit to Colombia | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

Ahead of a meeting with Vice President Francia Marquez and her partner, Yerney Pinillo, cameras captured the duke and duchess as they walked out of the building. It was then that professional lip reader Nicola Hickling saw Meghan give Harry a quick one-word order.

Hickling told The Mirror that she observed the former Suits star mutter “hand” to her husband. The prince immediately obliged and grabbed hers before saying, “Here you go.”

Hickling also decoded what Meghan said to a youngster they met at the Colegio Cultura Popular school in Bogota. The lip reader noted that Harry was about to speak to the child but Meghan interrupted to talk to the boy first, so the prince quickly closed his mouth.

According to Hickling, Meghan proceeded to say: “So, so you won an award in products, is that right?” Once she was finished, Harry asked the boy: “How serious were you when you took on this offer?”

What a body language expert says Meghan did to show her ‘dominance’ and ‘control’

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry arrive in Bogota, Colombia | Eric Charbonneau/Archewell Foundation via Getty Images

Darren Stanton is a body language and behavioral expert with a degree in psychology. He previously worked as a police officer and used his expertise to uncover the truth when interviewing hundreds of suspects. He later moved into media and TV as a consultant and has been dubbed the “Human Lie Detector.”

Stanton pointed out how the duchess asserted her “dominance” and “control” when they arrived in Colombia.

Speaking on behalf of Betfair Slingo the expert said: “Harry and Meghan carried themselves with huge levels of confidence. Harry came across as tall and strong, whilst also maintaining a steady calmness. This shows Harry wanted to make their presence known and present themselves with a high sense of purpose … We saw Meghan wearing a navy color … this color choice suggests Meghan wanted to assert dominance and control. She [was] aiming to make a bold statement.”

Showbiz Cheat Sheet acknowledges conditions and cultures can impact body language and is sensitive to all backgrounds.

Balmoral: 5 of Prince Harry’s Quotes About the Royal Family’s Summer Getaway

Mandi Kerr — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 13:36:00 +0000

August means one thing for the British royal family—going to Balmoral. While he and the Sussexes aren’t invited this year, Prince Harry has, from time to time, opened up about vacationing in the Scottish Highlands. Ahead are some of the Duke of Sussex’s quotes about Balmoral from Spare.

1. Harry thought of Balmoral as ‘paradise’

Between all of the bombshells and claims in his 2023 Spare memoir, which may or may not someday get a sequel, Harry shared details about Balmoral, the royal family’s longtime summer retreat. (His late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died at Balmoral in 2022, was especially fond of the estate.)

Harry began Spare by reflecting on Balmoral, the nearly 50,000-acre estate in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. To Harry, who now lives in Montecito, California, with Meghan Markle and their two children, it was “paradise.”

“To me Balmoral was always simply paradise,” he said, calling it “a cross between Disney World and some sacred Druid grove.” Like the rest of his family, he spent his time “mostly outdoors,” either “fishing, shooting,[or] running up and down ‘the hill.’”

2. He was ‘happy’ there before Princess Diana’s death

King Charles, Prince Harry, and Prince William | Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images

Before Princess Diana died in Paris, France, on Aug. 31, 1997, following a car accident, then-12-year-old Harry—just weeks shy of turning 13—recalled “happy.”

“I was happy there,” he said of Balmoral. “In fact, it’s possible that I was never happier than that one golden summer day at Balmoral: August 30, 1997.” (He woke up the next morning to his father, the now-King Charles III, at his bedside to break the news.)

He went on to describe the estate as “its own micro-season, a two-week interlude in the Scottish Highlands to mark the turn from high summer to early autumn.”

3. On the ‘shock’ of going from St. Tropez to Balmoral in 1997

When Harry’s “heaven” of a trip to St. Tropez, France, with Prince William and Diana ended—it would be their last vacation together before her death—returning to Scotland came as a “shock.”

Harry described it as a “shock to the system” to go “from sun-drenched St. Tropez to cloud-shadowed Balmoral,” which he “vaguely” remembers for his week at the castle in August 1997.

4. Harry shared a bedroom with Prince William at Balmoral

In perhaps the first example of “heir” and “spare” in his memoir, Harry recalled how he and his brother, the now-Prince of Wales, whom he referred to as “Willy,” shared a bedroom at Balmoral.

“Willy had the larger half, with a double bed, a good-sized basin, a cupboard with mirrored doors, a beautiful window looking down on the courtyard, the fountain, the bronze statue of roe deer buck.”

Meanwhile, his “half of the room was far smaller” and “less luxurious.” Harry explained he “never asked why” because it wasn’t necessary. He already knew the answer. “Two years older than me, Willy was the Heir, whereas I was the Spare.”

5 They felt ‘guilty’ crossing the castle’s manicured lawn

Elsewhere, Harry shared that the lawn, manicured to perfection by Balmoral’s “ballation” of gardeners, gave him and William pause.

“The lawn was so perfect, every blade of grass so precisely mown,” he wrote, “Willy and I felt guilty about walking across it, let alone riding our bikes. But we did it anyway, all the time.”

1 Royal Was Dubbed the ‘Balcony Enforcer’ as Family Reveals ‘Strict’ Rules for Balcony Appearances

Julia Mullaney — Sat, 17 Aug 2024 11:59:00 +0000

The royal family’s balcony appearances are few and far between, but when they do gather outside of Buckingham Palace, thousands of people gather as well just to see them. It’s made for some of the family’s most iconic photos — especially when the young kids join, too, because their actions are always a bit unpredictable (we’re looking at you, Prince Louis).

Recently, though, one royal family member revealed that another one has been dubbed the “balcony enforcer” for ensuring strict rules are followed while the family makes those important public appearances.

King Charles and Queen Elizabeth II stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace as Prince Louis has a meltdown | Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Princess Anne has been dubbed the ‘balcony enforcer’

Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son, once recalled that his mother took things quite seriously while the royals were on the balcony. She was referred to as the “balcony enforcer” and would often reaffirm rules before the kids would take the biggest stage of their lives: appearing on the Buckingham Palace Balcony.

“You then get a clip round the ear and say right, ‘behave yourself, you know, we’re going out on the balcony,'” Phillips said during a documentary made for his mom’s 70th birthday, according to Express. “Don’t pick your nose and you know, don’t yawn.”

Zara Tindall agreed with the rules and also seemingly thought it was a way of strengthening her bond with the other kids, primarily her cousins Prince William and Prince Harry.

Princess Anne has continued to leave a lasting mark on the royal children; she has taken Princess Charlotte under her wing and is already teaching her the ropes of how to politely be a royal.

Princess Anne has always stepped up for the royal family

Anne is a royal who flies under the radar because she doesn’t have the same notoriety as her brother, King Charles, or her nephews, Prince William and Prince Harry. While she will never take the throne, Anne has constantly proven that she is one of the real ones when it comes to supporting the royal family.

In 2023, Anne made more official royal appearances than any other working member — including Charles and William. And earlier this year, when Charles and Kate Middleton were both taking time away from the spotlight for health reasons, Anne continued to step up and step in, making sure she completed as many royal engagements as possible. As the queen’s oldest daughter, the Princess Royal has solidified herself as a key member of the royal family — even if it once meant being a little strict on the royal balcony.

Colombian Locals Confused by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Visit; ‘Are They Here to Help?’

Michelle Kapusta — Fri, 16 Aug 2024 23:36:57 +0000

Three months after their trip to Nigeria, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle traveled to another country for a visit and that’s Colombia. The South American country’s Vice President Francia Márquez announced weeks earlier that “the Duke and Duchess will join me in visiting Bogotá, as well as the Caribbean and Pacific regions of Cartagena and Cali.”

The purpose of their visit is to promote mental health for young people and raise awareness about cyberbullying. But some locals are confused and wondering exactly what the Sussexes are doing there since the “burden” of this visit may fall on Colombia’s residents.

Harry and Meghan’s visit ‘raised questions’ among locals about who’s paying for what

After Meghan and Harry’s visit was announced, there were reports that some Colombians were urging the Vice President to cancel the trip. That didn’t happen but many still had questions about it, especially considering all the special accommodations the couple required during their four-day visit. And others wanted to know why the pair chose to travel to a place with such a high crime rate (it has a ‘Level 3’ travel advisory from the U.S. State Department) when Harry believes Meghan’s life is at risk in the U.K.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry a show during a visit to the National Centre for the Arts in Bogota, Colombia | RAUL ARBOLEDA/AFP via Getty Images

Author and royal expert, Robert Jobson told Express that confused Colombian locals want to know what benefit the country is getting from hosting the duo and asking: “Are they here to help?”

He added: “When Harry and Meghan touched down, it wasn’t just the Colombian sun that made people squint. It was the blinding glare of their celebrity … a shiny distraction to keep the people from looking too closely at the cracks in the walls, wondering who is paying for their security, flights, and luxury accommodations.”

The Independent noted that according to Nick Pisa, a reporter covering their trip, the duke and duchess were assigned an “immense security presence” with “14 cars and police van convoys.”

It’s not known yet who will cover the cost of their visit the Colombian government, its residents, or both.

Anthony Cawdron, a former royal butler who served at Blenheim Palace, told Daily Express US: “I think each of these trips that they take seems to have the effect that people question them more. They are putting a burden on a country that may have a limited amount of methods of keeping them safe.”

Locals in Nigeria were also confused about the Sussexes’ ‘unofficial tour’ there

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit the Lagos State Governor’s Office in Nigeria | Ibrahim Mansur/Anadolu via Getty Images

Colombians questioning what Meghan and Harry went there for aren’t alone in asking about that. Nigerians wondered the same thing when the Sussexes traveled there in May, and some had very strong opinions about that visit given the country’s economic situation.

A video posted on Reddit featured Nigerian locals who expressed their dissatisfaction with the duke and duchess’s trip.

One person explained: “What effect does it have on our economy? Harry’s coming and Nigeria is going to spend billions. Look Nigerians are dying. Everybody’s frustrated over economic hardships … Let me tell you, if you seek my opinion and other people’s opinions, in fact conduct an opinion poll, it’s wasting resources.”

And another local said the prince and former Suits star‘s tour was “Not a welcome idea. That’s the truth. Whether the wife claims that she’s part of Nigeria or not, it’s not a welcome idea.”