‘I think he’s really going to regret this!’ Lorraine Kelly slams Prince Harry for not attending his grandfather Prince Philip’s memorial over ‘safety reasons’

Lorraine Kelly has slammed Prince Harry for not attending his grandfather Prince Philip’s memorial over ‘safety reasons’.

The presenter, 62, was speaking on her daytime TV show on Wednesday where she said that he would ‘regret’ his decision and questioned why he wouldn’t have felt safe at Westminster Abbey where the event took place. 

The Duke of Sussex was slammed for staying at his $14million Californian mansion instead of attending the memorial, blaming his absence on a row over police protection — despite a planned visit to the Netherlands in two weeks time for the Invictus Games. 

Having her say: Lorraine Kelly has slammed Prince Harry for not attending his grandfather Prince Philip’s memorial over ‘safety reasons’

Lorraine said: ‘I must admit up until the very very last minute I thought, do you know what – Prince Harry will just come over. I think he’s really going to regret this.

‘He’s not going because he says he doesn’t feel safe. For goodness sake, they’re in Westminster Abbey. 

‘Can you imagine how many people are there looking after the Queen and everyone else. It just seems a shame.’ 

In LA: The Duke of Sussex was slammed for staying at his $14million Californian mansion instead of attending the memorial, blaming his absence on a row over police protection

The Duke, 37, is pursuing a legal challenge against the Home Office after being told he would no longer be given the ‘same degree’ of personal protective security when visiting from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself.

He was last in the UK in July 2021 when he made a flying visit to unveil a statue of his late mother, Princess Diana Spencer, alongside brother Prince William in honour what would have been her 60th birthday.

However, his excuse of ‘security concerns’ as a reason not to have returned has been branded ‘pathetic’ by former aides and royal experts. 

Oh no: The presenter, 62, was speaking on her daytime TV show on Wednesday where she said that he would ‘regret’ his decision and questioned why he wouldn’t have felt safe

Prince Harry’s concerns over security also faced criticism yesterday from Richard Griffin, who spent 14 years as a royal protection officer for Prince Philip. 

Mr Griffin said: ‘Prince Philip was their grandfather so William has obviously had a great training from him and is going to learn examples from him. I just hope Harry gets some of these things in his mind.

‘It [Harry not being here] was a big disappointment for everybody. People were talking about it. Certainly around where I was people were saying he should have been here. 

‘All this nonsense about how he couldn’t get protection, as far as I’m concerned that was a pathetic excuse. He should’ve been here to honour his grandfather.

Not happy: Lorraine said: ‘I must admit up until the very very last minute I thought, do you know what – Prince Harry will just come over. I think he’s really going to regret this’

Family: Prince Harry was the only major royal figure not to attend Prince Philip’s memorial service (pictured) yesterday

‘At the end of the day, if he was that worried about security, he could’ve stuck with his brother and father who have got wonderful security and he would have been more than safe.’

Other royal watchers also slammed Harry for being the only senior royal to miss the tribute to Prince Philip, with GMB presenter Richard Madeley asking: ‘What is he playing at?’ 

Royal expert Angela Levin tweeted: ‘Heart warming to see the great grandchildren at Prince Philip’s thanksgiving service. Plenty of royals, and hundred of those connected to his charities. No one will forget or forgive he who didn’t feel safe.’ 

She continued: ‘He’s not going because he says he doesn’t feel safe. For goodness sake, they’re in Westminster Abbey’

Reaction: Fans took to Twitter to criticise the Duke of Sussex for his no show One wrote: ‘I always defend Prince Harry no matter what but now he can royally kiss my fat a**’

Fans took to Twitter to criticise the Duke of Sussex. One wrote: ‘I always defend Prince Harry no matter what but now he can royally kiss my fat a**. He’s far too important to attend his grandads memorial.’

Another said: ‘It’s shameful that Prince Harry refused to attend, but this is the same guy that trashed his family on global TV while his grandfather lay seriously ill in hospital.’

While a third commented: ‘Sorry but Prince Harry should be there, no question and no debate.

‘He probably has ‘better things to do’ in the United States of America with that awful wife of his. A disgrace of epic proportions.’ 

However, Harry does plan to fly to The Hague in the Netherlands in two weeks’ time to attend the Invictus Games for injured military service that he set up.

The Games run from April 16 to 22, which means Harry would have the opportunity to visit his grandmother for her 96th birthday on the 21st.

On March 11, a spokesman for the Duke confirmed that he would not return to the UK for the service – but added that he hopes to visit his grandmother soon.

Safety: Prince Harry’s concerns over security also faced criticism yesterday from Richard Griffin, who spent 14 years as a royal protection officer for Prince Philip 

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