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Royal experts say Meghan Markle and Prince Harry could have justified the high cost of their Africa tour if they had not ended it with a “personal” attack on the press.
Royal observers say the 2019 tour, which was revealed today cost the taxpayer £ 240,000, could have been a “ historic success ”.
But on the last day of the trip, in which the Sussexes visited South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Malawi with their son Archie on their last official tour before ‘Megxit’, Meghan announced that she was filing a privacy lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday. .
The couple also secretly filmed an explosive documentary in which Meghan described Harry’s family as indifferent by accusing them of never asking her if she was “ okay. ”
The Duchess of Sussex also revealed in an interview with ITV’s Tom Bradbury, filmed as part of ‘Harry & Meghan: An African Journey,’ that she was struggling to cope with intense scrutiny, saying she was ‘existing, not living’.
But the decision, which was criticized at the time, has been described as an “extraordinary own goal” by royal observer Richard Fitzwilliams.
Royal accounts released today show that £ 245,643 was spent on scheduled flights and a private jet for the couple (pictured in Cape Town) and their entourage, making it the most expensive royal trip of the year.
Pictured: Archbishop Desmond Tutu kissed baby Archie on the forehead while in the hands of his mother, the Duchess of Sussex, in Cape Town, on the third day of his Africa tour.
The Duke of Sussex helps local schoolchildren plant trees in the Chobe Tree Reserve in Botswana, on the fourth day of his Africa tour
In the photo, Prince Harry holds a bowl as he talks to a boy carrying a shovel in a tree plantation in northern Botswana.
His comments come after a new report today revealed that the tour cost £ 240,000 and was the most expensive royal tour of the past year.
Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator and public relations expert, told MailOnline: “ Harry and Meghan’s trip to South and South Africa had all the makings of being a historic success until Meghan launched a privacy lawsuit against the Mail. on Sunday on its last day.
The Sussexes represented the queen in a Commonwealth country. This was not a way of running things, putting self above duty so publicly and it was also totally unprecedented.
‘If they hadn’t used it climatically for personal purposes, this 10-day tour of South Africa would have become a historic success with memorable events like taking his son Archie to meet the iconic Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Harry in the footsteps of his mother in an Angolan minefield.
He added: “It was an extraordinary own goal.”
Another royal observer, Phil Dampier, also said that the timing of the interview “ruined” the goodwill generated by the tour.
Actual author Phil Dampier said the couple’s ITV interview overshadowed the tour, while Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator and public relations expert, said the pair had scored an ‘extraordinary own goal’.
Speaking to MailOnline, Mr Dampier, who has been writing about the royal family for 33 years and wrote the book ‘Royally Suited: Harry and Meghan in Their Own Words’, said:’ These trips are all requested and planned by the Foreign Office wherever they want them to show support and goodwill.
“I think it would have been money well spent if they hadn’t ruined it by attacking the press at the end.
“It took away the goodwill and good causes they were trying to promote.
“I feel like the money was wasted because of that bad publicity.
In the interview (with Tom Bradbury), Mr. Dampier added: ‘The interview she gave made all the headlines the next day, rather than the good causes they were trying to promote.
“She could have done that interview from home and not spend a quarter of a million pounds.”
Another royal observer, Robert Jobson, said: ‘The trip itself was positive. It was well received on a daily basis, generating positive headlines for the work they did on behalf of the government.
That said, the absurd timing of his unwanted attack on the press and the negative headlines that followed overshadowed all the positive work that was done.
“They took two steps forward and three steps back.”
The comments come as live accounts released today show £ 245,643 was spent on scheduled flights and a private jet for the couple and their entourage, making it the most expensive royal trip of the year.
Sources defended the cost, saying it was a key visit approved by the Foreign Ministry and helped highlight the work of numerous charities.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex made more than 20 commitments, drawing attention to a number of worthy causes, in particular raising awareness of the work and legacy of the Halo Trust. [an anti-landmine charity championed by Princess Diana]’said the source.
“The visit, as an official visit financed by the Government, fulfilled the objectives that were proposed.”
Royal officials spent another £ 210,345 on a private charter plane to fly Prince Charles to Oman to pay their official respects after the king’s death.
Before taking a trip with the anti-poaching patrol, Harry revealed his deep affinity for Botswana, adding: ‘I came here in 1997 or 1998 right after my mother died, so it was a good place to get away from it all. . I feel deeply connected to this place and to Africa ‘
In an ITV documentary, Harry hinted that his wife and son Archie might travel abroad to the African nation by speaking to broadcaster Tom Bradby (pictured together).
The Duke’s Cambridge tour of Pakistan last year was the third most expensive of the year, costing £ 117,116, but ministers called it a great success.
Other costs include £ 15,848 spent to fly the beleaguered Prince Andrew in a private jet to the Royal Portrush Golf Club in Northern Ireland for a two-day trip to the Open Championship last July.
Princess Anne spent £ 16,440 on another private jet to fly her from London to Rome to see her beloved Scotland again play in the Six Nations Rugby International against Italy.
She is the patron of the Scottish Rugby Union.
Meanwhile, figures show that the total bill for actual travel in 2019/2020 was 5.3 million pounds, an increase of 15.2% from last year’s 4.6 million pounds, according to the report. and the annual accounts of the palace, published today.
