HARRY and Meghan’s controversial tour of southern Africa last year cost the taxpayer almost a quarter-of-a-million-pounds – on a trip that saw the pair criticise the mechanics of the Royal Family.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex took baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor to South Africa in September last year on his first royal overseas trip, with the flights alone costing to nearly a quarter of a million pounds and were the most expensive royal journey of 2019-2020.
Harry and Meghan also filmed an ITV documentary while on the trip in which they spoke of their struggles as royals.
The pair have frequently been publicly critical of the Royal Family dynamics and lifestyle – despite living a life of luxury, and the ancient institution being crucial to the prosperity of the United Kingdom and its position on the world stage.
Meghan Markle stated in the interview that she did not feel like she had been adequately supported by the royals, particularly when it came to protection from the scrutiny of the British press.
While in South Africa, the Duchess launched legal action against a newspaper and Harry also delivered a scathing attack on the tabloid press.
A senior royal source insisted the couple are under no obligation to pay money back for the trip after announcing their decision to quit as senior royals just three months later.
Last month, research by Tatler magazine found that of 4,174 British adults polled, 68% believe the couple should have their royal titles taken off them, with many believing that the pair are undermining the royal family and indeed Britain itself.
A majority also said they were uncomfortable with Meghan commenting on US politics ahead of the Presidential election in November, as royal family members are traditionally not supposed to publicly comment on or get involved with political matters – a tradition that the popular monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, has staunchly tried to protect during her long reign.
Meanwhile the Queen is facing a £35 million shortfall in funding because of the Covid-19 pandemic – but has vowed not to ask the Government for a bailout from taxpayers.
Instead, her majesty has been involved in organising financial cutbacks to counteract the dramatic drop in income that has resulted from a stark loss of visitors to their historical properties across the UK during the lockdown.
