Prince Harry slammed over ‘pathetic’ decision to skip Philip’s memorial

Watching the emotional, frail Queen farewell her late husband surrounded by her close family, one notable absence was particularly jarring.

Prince Harry has been slammed for being the only senior member of the Royal Family to miss his grandfather’s memorial service.

The Duke of Sussex stayed at his $20 million Californian mansion with wife Meghan Markle, blaming his absence on a row over police protection — despite his planned visit to the Netherlands in two weeks for the Invictus Games, reports The Sun.

The Prince was criticised by royal watchers, while the public outside expressed their disgust at his “shameful” absence.

More than 1800 people attended the service to honour the Duke of Edinburgh, including 27 members of international royalty who jetted in from around the globe.

Prince Philip’s former protection officer described Harry’s excuses for not attending as pathetic.

Stay up to date with the latest news on the British Royals with Flash. 25+ news channels in 1 place. New to Flash? Try 1 month free. Offer ends 31 October, 2022 >

Harry and Meghan have had a strained relationship with his family. Picture: Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images

Richard Griffin, who spent 14 years guarding for the late Duke, said Harry’s absence was “a big disappointment for everybody”.

He added: “People were talking about it. Certainly around where I was, people were saying that he should have been here.

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

“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.”

Harry is suing the Home Office after his armed bodyguards were removed when he quit royal duties. He said he would feel unsafe bringing children Archie, two, and Lilibet, nine months, to Britain from the US without their protection.

The Queen was accompanied into Westminster Abbey by Prince Andrew. Picture: Richard Pohle/Pool/AFP

Royal biographer Angela Levin questioned whether Harry will ever recognise his “appalling behaviour”.

She said: “He is such a changed person, it is difficult to know if he will even regret not attending. The Harry I interviewed was caring and kind and instinctive. Nowadays, he is so full of resentment and ‘me me me’.

“He doesn’t seem to have any broader range to care about things unless they are things impacting him and Meghan.

“Many royals from abroad made the effort, yet Harry’s pathetic excuse is that he didn’t feel safe. The police would have had it completely covered. The royal children were all there, the heirs to the throne, so it just doesn’t make any sense that the protection wouldn’t be there.”

Visiting monarchy included the kings and queens of Belgium, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Sweden, and royals from Denmark, Luxembourg, Monaco, Bahrain, Greece, Romania and Serbia.

Outside Westminster Abbey, fans told of their incredulity that Harry did not attend.

Retired book binder Sky London, 61, from Edgware, North London, said: “I’m disappointed Harry has chosen not to come because of security, yet he’s happy to fly to the Netherlands where he’ll have no security.”

Mum-of-four Mindy Schenk, 54, who extended her UK holiday from California to be there, said: “I managed to make it when Harry and Meghan didn’t. I feel bad for the Queen that she will be without her grandson on this day.”

Harry flew back from California to attend Philip’s funeral last April without Meghan, who was heavily pregnant with Lilibet at the time.

He last returned to the UK eight months ago to unveil the statue of his late mother, Diana.

This article originally appeared in The Sun and was reproduced with permission