The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have pulled their children Archie and Lilibet out of their new school.
Sky’s Laura Bundock on incident with Harry and Meghan’s convoy
Sky News paused their live show for a breaking news announcement. Anna Botting, host of The Wrap, issued an update on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s UK return following reports the couple have pulled their children, son Archie, seven, and daughter Lilibet, five, out of their new school. The two young royals will now be sent to a new school as a result amid claims their parents blame traffic for the change. Sources close to the couple reported that Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, had no issue with the school itself. Speaking on her show on Monday, Anna said: “Lets get the details from our royal correspondent Laura Bundock. Two days in, a switch already. What are the couple saying, Laura?”
The royal correspondent replied: “The Sussexes’ have been back in Britain less than a month. These last few weeks were very much meant to be focused on settling into their new home, and of course, settling their children into their new school. Archie and Lilibet, who are seven and five, started a new school last week but just after two days at that school they have been pulled out.”
In a bombshell claim Laura addressed the decision for the sudden move. She explained: “They have now started a new school in the same area due to security concerns. Security is something that Prince Harry has long been deeply concerned about.”
She then read out a statement from the Sussexes’ spokesperson, which said: “The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements. The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family.
“This decision should no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.”
Sky News halts for breaking Prince Harry and Meghan Markle alert (Image: Getty)
Laura revealed the Sussexes were also concerned about the heavy traffic in the area as she told viewers about an incident. According to the royal correspondent, it took place while the family travelled in their convoy.
“We understand this wasn’t about the school itself,” she explained, “but the practicalities of getting them to and back.”
Laura continued: “We understand there was heavy traffic on the school run. That the distances travelled to put a lot of pressure on the Sussexes’ small private security firm.
“There was also an incident, we are led to believe, involving the convoy they were travelling in and some disruption to that i.e. the vehicles were supposed to be travelling next to each other.”
Archie and Lilibet have been pulled out of their new school (Image: Instagram/Meghan Duchess of Sussex)
She added: “It begs the question if there decision to come back to the UK was really last minute.”
Daily Mirror columnist Kevin Maguire is convinced that Harry and Meghan are lobbying hard to receive taxpayer-funded security. He added, “They will be using this as part of their case.”
Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, Baroness Foster said: “If you’re moving back to the UK, if you’re going to bring your children to a school so many miles away from you home, surely you would have run all of those scenarios before the children went to school and you would have planned for all of this before there were practicality problems sending the kids to school.”
She added, “The people I feel sorry for are the children. Brought from one country to a school in another country. Then all of a sudden, no your not going to that school.”
Bodyguards for the Sussexes reportedly checked the school over the Summer holidays before the children were sent there. But reports suggest the security teams did not properly check the school run before the first day of term. Archie and Lilibet will now join another school in the area on Monday for their first lessons.
Meghan and Harry pulled their children out of private school after just two days because her security team were alarmed at the heavy term-time traffic, according to reports.
The convoy transporting Archie and Lilibet from their new home became separated during the busy school run, leaving the children “sitting ducks” in stationary traffic, it emerged today.
RNLI shuts down UK lifeboat station after furious migrant protests erupt
Protestors branded RNLI volunteers “traitors” and accused the charity of operating a “collection service”.
Angry protests in Portsmouth this month (Image: Getty Images)
The RNLI has temporarily suspended operations at a Portsmouth lifeboat station after volunteers were subjected to physical and online abuse following protests over migrants brought ashore. Portsmouth Lifeboat Station in Eastney has been out of service since September 10, four days after two RNLI all-weather lifeboats brought 120 migrants to shore following their rescue in the English Channel.
The arrival sparked demonstrations near the station, with protesters branding RNLI volunteers “traitors” and accusing the charity of operating a “collection service”. Police remained at the station in the days afterwards as a precaution amid a surge in threats directed at the RNLI and its personnel. The backlash has also spread online, forcing Eastney RNLI to remove its Facebook page.
Several people have been charged with violent disorder following the late-night protest, while a number of police officers were treated for injuries sustained at the scene.
The RNLI has since taken additional steps to protect its volunteers, including advising some not to wear uniform or branded clothing in public.
The organisation has stressed that the temporary suspension has not left Portsmouth without search and rescue cover.
A charity spokesperson said: “Portsmouth Lifeboat Station has been temporarily off service since 10 September.
“We hope to have the lifeboat station back on service as soon as possible.
“Search and rescue cover continues to be provided through established contingency arrangements, including flank RNLI stations and other declared assets.”
The latest disruption comes after similar problems elsewhere, with Poole Old Lifeboat Museum also closing following incidents in which volunteers were verbally assaulted by anti-migrant protesters.
RNLI chief executive Peter Sparkes condemned the abuse, saying it had followed misinformation about the charity’s work.
Mr Sparkes said: “Recent events have generated deliberate misinformation and a misunderstanding about the RNLI – our purpose, our tasking, and particularly our lifesaving work in the Channel.
“Sadly, as a result, some of our volunteers and staff have been the subject of online and, in the worst cases, physical abuse.”
He criticised those responsible as people who “hide behind a balaclava or a keyboard”, describing their “action” as “wholly unacceptable”.
The RNLI said lifeboat stations can sometimes be temporarily unavailable due to maintenance or other operational requirements, with contingency arrangements in place to maintain rescue coverage.
The Portsmouth station remains temporarily out of service while those arrangements continue.
The protests followed the arrival of the 120 migrants at Eastney Point on September 6 after the two RNLI lifeboats picked them up while they were attempting to cross the Channel from France.
The RNLI lifeboat was denied access to Southampton and Portsmouth before the passengers were eventually landed at Eastney in Portsmouth.
News of the landing quickly spread, prompting demonstrators to gather near Portsmouth Lifeboat Station in opposition to the migrants being brought into the city.
The protest continued late into the night and descended into violence, with police officers injured during clashes. Multiple people have subsequently been charged with violent disorder.
The RNLI has faced criticism from anti-migrant protesters over its Channel rescue operations, despite the charity saying its role is to respond to people in distress at sea.
The hostility has extended beyond Portsmouth. Volunteers at Poole Old Lifeboat Museum were verbally assaulted during several incidents involving anti-migrant protesters, prompting the museum to close.
The RNLI has warned that misinformation about its work has contributed to abuse directed at staff and volunteers, and has advised them to exercise caution when deciding whether to wear its branded clothing.
The Express has contacted the RNLI for additional comment.