According to sources, the White House turned down Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, when they sought to join the Bidens on their return flight to the U.S. on Air Force One after attending the Queen’s funeral in September.
The White House allegedly denied the couple’s request due to concerns that it might jeopardize relations with the Royal Family. Prior to the Queen’s death in September of last year, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were in the UK for charity engagements and stayed until Her Majesty’s funeral.
The couple were not invited to a pre-funeral reception at Buckingham Palace, where other royals interacted with President Biden and first wife Jill Biden, as well as other world leaders, including the new King Charles and Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
They were also banished to the second row of the funeral service at Westminster Abbey, behind the rest of the royal family. Feeling rejected, Harry and Meghan’s team approached the White House to ask if they might take Air Force One back to the U.S., which the Bidens had used for their official visit to London for the funeral.
White House declined the request due to fear of provoking a ‘Commotion’
According to a source, the White House declined the request because it could provoke a “commotion” and ruin the President’s relationship with Buckingham Palace. Meghan and Harry’s staff, according to the publication, “reached out to the White House to ask if the couple could get a ride back to the United States on Air Force One,” noting how it would have been a “grand photo opportunity.”
The source added that it was an “immediate no from the Americans, with Biden’s staff recognizing it was a no-go,” and there was barely any discussion on the issue other than it being a “non-starter.”
The source also stated that Harry and Meghan have been “trying to gain political influence in the U.S.,” and wanting to board Air Force One was one of their methods.
The White House has the authority to invite whomever they want on board Air Force One, but there are costs involved. Excursions for official government business are normally paid for by taxpayers, whilst other excursions are paid for by travelers or their sponsors.
White House’s repeated snubs on Prince Harry and Meghan
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex had been previously disregarded by the White House on multiple occasions before this incident. Jill Biden had declined an invitation from Harry and Meghan to join the Invictus Games in The Hague, Netherlands, in April 2022.
The U.S. first lady had previously attended the games in Canada in 2017 and Florida in 2016 with her husband, who was the vice president at the time. She intended to attend the 2022 Olympics as well, but British authorities informed National Security Council employees that it would look bad because Harry and Meghan were no longer seen as having any official state standing, according to sources.
Instead of Jill Biden, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and his husband Chasten represented the United States at the games.