Sept. 15, 2026
NEW: Harry And Meghan Change Kids’ School Over Security Concerns, As UK Reconsiders Sussex’s Security Status
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have been dealing with a lot of changes lately, and now, just two days after starting a new school, in a new country, they’ve had to make another major change: another new school. According to the Sussex’s spokesperson, the distance and traffic between home and school have proven to be too difficult and caused enough security concerns that they have switched the children’s school. This comes as the UK announced both the Duke and Dutchess will “imminently receive” an official risk re-assessment to determine whether tax funded security will be extended to them.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
00:00:02
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It's Tuesday, September 15th, and Harry and Meghan just can't catch a break. Now it's their kids that can't even catch a break. They just had their first day of school. It was also their last day at that school. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. How many actual days were separated the first day of school for the little prince and princess? And their last day at that school, it was a matter of what? Two days. Two days.
00:00:28
Speaker 2: They had two days at their new school. Think about these poor little kids. I'm serious. I know they're poor little prince and princess, but it is a very traumatic thing to do a big move to a different country, all new people. They sound different. They look different. You're told you're related to them. And you get to your new school. And you're like, okay, I'm going to get settled here. Kindergarten, what would it be? Kindergarten and second grade? I don't know how they do it in the UK, but that seems like that would be their ages. And yes, and so you're excited. You're meeting your new classmates, your new teachers, and all of a sudden, whammo, got to go to a new school again. What?
00:01:07
Speaker 1: Every parent can relate to this. It doesn't matter. When you... When you have to move towns, you're so upset about what that does to your kid and their friend circle. And then they have to start a new school and what that does to be the new kid somewhere, whatever.
00:01:21
Speaker 2: Man.
00:01:22
Speaker 1: I do. This one kind of breaks my heart for the kids.
00:01:24
Speaker 2: It is so sad. Look, I had to do, it was the middle of sixth grade. I went from St. Louis to Atlanta. That was a culture shock for me right there. And I still to this day remember, I mean, I spent two weeks of just feeling sick and scared and it just, It's a big deal for a kid to have to switch around like that and to have to adjust after just two days. And when you hear the reason why, it's kind of baffling. So this is coming from their camp. But apparently the distance between where they're living and where this school is, they thought it was going to be about a 45-minute, I guess, distance or something with heavy traffic. But they say that they were staying in too much distance stagnant traffic which created too big of a threat for the kids the convoys weren't able to stick together or the convoy couldn't stick together and so they had to abort because just the logistics of where the house is and where the school was did not jibe with their security team okay how did they not plan that out better.
00:02:27
Speaker 1: That seems really odd babe that a security detail wouldn't do that again don't want to criticize and we don't know what the circumstances are but roll just one of the first things security details do getting from point a to point b what is the route we're going to take what are the traffic patterns i just don't know robes a lot of planning has been going into them being at this school how you're going to get there every day and how you're going to get home it's thing one once they're in school should be fine What, Robes, how was this missed that this is so disruptive? We have to pull you out of school because we didn't know the traffic pattern?
00:02:59
Speaker 2: I know, that seems crazy. Look, I will say, when school started back here in New York City last week, I forgot it was the first day of school. And what it usually takes me to get to my hair appointment was doubled all of a sudden and I had to get out of the Uber and I'm like running to the appointment thinking about getting on a city bike because I didn't account for how much more time it takes when school's in session. I'm wondering if the security team was doing some of these runs.
00:03:29
Speaker 1: Stop.
00:03:29
Speaker 2: In the summer before school started, and they didn't realize how much worse it was going to be when school came back. Traffic doubles sometimes. Traffic time doubles when school's in session.
00:03:41
Speaker 1: You really think that's it?
00:03:42
Speaker 2: If they need to get a whole new security team, but that would make sense. Ruh-roh, we didn't realize it was going to take this long.
00:03:49
Speaker 1: Is there anything out there you've seen people questioning that maybe this ain't actually it? That's not really the thing? That's the issue? Because this seems like.
00:03:58
Speaker 2: The only conspiracy theory out there is that right at the time, and we'll get into this, Harry and Meghan's security detail is now being, or their ability to have any sort of government protection is being reconsidered for the first time since 2020. All of a sudden, they have a security concern now. With their kids getting to school. But I hardly believe that any parent would use their kid as a pawn to try and get what they want and have them get thrown into a school, pulled out of a school, have to go to a new school, all to get public funded security. But that is one of the operating conspiracy theories.
00:04:35
Speaker 1: Okay. I thought it was going to be more far-fetched than that because I realized, yes, they are up for review. Do they ask for it or they just kind of qualify this group over that it takes care of public figures?
00:04:45
Speaker 2: It seems as though they qualify for it.
00:04:47
Speaker 1: They qualify for it.
00:04:54
Speaker 2: Coming from the Sussexes, coming from Prince Harry and Meghan, that they were a little surprised at the king's warning, specifically calling them a private citizen versus a public figure. And that is part of the determination as to whether or not you're even qualified or considered a to be a part of this taxpayer-funded security detail.
00:05:17
Speaker 1: Okay, but you have to be deemed, you have to be classified a public figure. They can be private citizens, and they will always be public figures just by the level of their fame.
00:05:25
Speaker 2: And that's part of the argument.
00:05:27
Speaker 1: But the truth is, you are private citizens.
00:05:28
Speaker 2: Yes, but he made a point to call them private citizens, and so that was a little bit of the rub, I guess, because they're trying to get the public figure status.
00:05:37
Speaker 1: This royal stuff is fascinating.
00:05:39
Speaker 2: Isn't it crazy? Let's read the official statement coming from the Duke and Duchess regarding their children's abrupt school change. The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family 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 families. This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there. But it's just such a British way to put it.
00:06:15
Speaker 1: You're about to go to practicalities again.
00:06:18
Speaker 2: The practicalities of their current arrangement. Yeah, we didn't do our due diligence to figure out what it would be like to drive the kids to and from school.
00:06:28
Speaker 1: That's odd. It's just an odd thing to overlook. It's the first thing you have to do, baby. I don't know.
00:06:35
Speaker 2: It seems wild. Yes, we were discussing earlier, we literally have been sitting down with Sabine and looking at all of her high school options. And part of that entails, how are you getting there? How are you getting back? How long is it going to take? What are your options? Obviously, Ubers are too expensive. Can you get on the subway? Does this make sense?
00:06:54
Speaker 1: Well, you even brought up, it gets cold. It's going to be rainy. You're going to take that 45-minute train ride, even in the snow. You're All these things. We were doing this literally yesterday. And to hear that you have a whole security detail that missed the most basic of things, how you get to and from school, it just, that part lends itself. I will listen to a conspiracy theory. It just seems odd that you would miss that. The most basic thing.
00:07:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like the whole security team should be fired at this point then.
00:07:22
Speaker 1: We don't want to get on to them.
00:07:23
Speaker 2: But if they drop the ball on that basic and now your kids are having to now mentally and emotionally readjust within days, I would be pretty pissed off.
00:07:34
Speaker 1: Damn, I would be too.
00:07:35
Speaker 2: I would be very pissed off. But look, this all comes, yes, as Megan has now been granted a government-backed security review for the first time. Since she quit royal duties, Harry's review began back in July, so there's still no decision on him, but now Meghan's been added to it, and that's a very big deal.
00:07:55
Speaker 1: Ooh, this is going to be taxpayer money.
00:07:57
Speaker 2: Yes, so we've been told the Duke and Duchess will both imminently receive... An official risk assessment. And this is all the British newspapers and media outlets are reporting on this. This is a big deal. It's the Royal and VIP Executive Committee. It's called RAVEC. I don't know how they pronounce that acronym. But this oversees, this group oversees the tax-funded security for royalty and... And for public figures. So right now they're saying Harry and Meghan are giving this Royal and VIP Executive Committee details on their new daily routine, their school run, the addresses they routinely visit, the routes they take, and now the Home Office is going to be evaluating their level of threat.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: So for possibly giving them taxpayer-funded security?
00:08:47
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:08:48
Speaker 1: How is that going to read in British newspapers, that we have to pay for these two?
00:08:53
Speaker 2: Yes, we shall see, because... Little history here. It was February of 2020 when they decided to leave their official royal duties that they ruled that Harry was no longer going to be given the same degree of protection when he came back to the UK. He challenged that and lost in 2024. He went to court. He lost in 2024. And then he also lost in 2023 because he offered to privately pay Harry police for protection of him and his family. And they denied him that as well, because they say, we can't have wealthy people paying police officers for their personal security. So he even said, okay, fine. I won't ask the taxpayers to pay it. I'll pay it. And they still said no. So we'll see if there'll be, maybe there'll be some wiggle room there where they'll allow him to privately fund it, but have access to government security.
00:09:49
Speaker 1: He needs it. Because his current security doesn't even know how to do a Google map. Exactly.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: Apparently, they don't understand that traffic patterns change when kids go back to school.
00:10:00
Speaker 1: Okay, well, I need to stop because we seem like we have no idea. Because it seems like we're being critical of this security team. We don't know anything. If they are the ones, Robes, it seems something odd. What else could it be? But is it their responsibility? Is this on them? Is it that simple?
00:10:17
Speaker 2: It would be their one responsibility.
00:10:19
Speaker 1: What I'm saying was something else missed. Did someone else, were they told, yep, we're going to do this no matter what? Did they give a warning that, hey, this might be a problem? And then after a couple of days, I don't know. I just don't want to completely dump on the security team.
00:10:32
Speaker 2: It was described that they were sitting in too much traffic and that that was just, they said they were described as sitting ducks. And that was the concern, that they just felt like they can't be not moving. I mean, you think about a presidential convoy, anyone who's got some big official convoy, even, yes, the royals, they stop traffic and they keep moving because you don't want to be stopped for an extended period of time.
00:10:54
Speaker 1: I think there's a reason, but I think people know that now. The president, that level, folks, the president comes to the United States, his car, once it leaves the airport, does not stop moving at any point.
00:11:07
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:11:07
Speaker 1: This entire city. They plant New York City police officers at every single intersection where there's a light. That car doesn't move. I understand that perfectly. The King's car never moves. You got to stay moving. Now, Robes, if you got.
00:11:23
Speaker 2: Oh, remember when we got to see him and we got to wave at him? I know. And he waved back.
00:11:26
Speaker 1: It was a big moment for us.
00:11:27
Speaker 2: He absolutely waved back.
00:11:29
Speaker 1: It wasn't at me. I assure you. But, Robes, yes.
00:11:34
Speaker 2: What.
00:11:35
Speaker 1: I'm trying to think of can these kids ever be treated like normal kids?
00:11:40
Speaker 2: No, of course they can't, especially when everyone wants to see their face.
00:11:43
Speaker 1: Here's my question, babe. Give me an example of some royal or the kids of a president or something that go about their lives in a normal way, meaning they go to a baseball game, they go take a drive, they go to a Starbucks. Will these kids ever be able to walk around normally if you can't even go to school? and be in line with the rest of your classmates? Can you line up outside? Like, how different of a life are they living, Robes? That convoy can be long, right? Not the convoy, the line for drop-off.
00:12:18
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:12:18
Speaker 1: Everybody's been in those before.
00:12:19
Speaker 2: You get backed up.
00:12:20
Speaker 1: Can they ever do that? How big is their convoy? How many vehicles are we talking about?
00:12:24
Speaker 2: I don't know, but there's people who are having a blast with it on X. showing like oh god this is how megan wants her kids to go to.
00:12:32
Speaker 1: School every day and it's like.
00:12:34
Speaker 3: Police and flashing lights and like a 12 cars coming down like dramatic as always yes so people are having a blast with it but when we come back we'll tell you about another social media post i thought megan might lay low she went the opposite route she posted again but for a good.
00:12:52
Speaker 2: Reason we'll explain when we come back Welcome back to Amy and TJ. Yes, Megan and Harry. We knew they would probably be in the headlines quite a bit now that they've moved back to the UK, but they have been in the headlines even more than we thought and for all the wrong reasons. Now they've got a problem with security, getting their kids to school. Apparently, they've enrolled them now in another school. British media have been reporting that they found another school. They're getting settled in. Everything's much better, yada, yada, yada. But guess what? Today is... Tuesday, September 15th, it is Prince Harry's 42nd birthday. Happy birthday.
00:13:39
Speaker 1: Happy birthday. It's good to be back home. What a big party at the castle.
00:13:43
Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure there's going to be a big party tonight with King Charles, Camilla, his brother William, Kate. They're all, I'm sure, no, that's not being reported at all. But wouldn't that be nice? What if they had a surprise party for him at Buckingham Palace? And Meghan was going to get him there and the whole thing was being orchestrated.
00:14:06
Speaker 1: Okay, that would be awesome. She had to coordinate the whole thing.
00:14:10
Speaker 2: He's like the prodigal son. He returns home.
00:14:12
Speaker 1: That would be great.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: I know. So, well, he might not be getting a Buckingham surprise party, but he did get an Instagram post from his lovely wife, Megan, following all of the negative comments from her last post showing their idyllic life in the English countryside where people just roasted her for. She put up a post the following day. Happy birthday, Harry. She said, he's simply the best and simply the best was playing. But another version I wasn't aware of. Happy birthday, my love. And then it just showed a bunch of pics of him with Archie and Lilibet. Their faces, of course, blocked, masked in many ways. There's a really, really, really, really, really cute one of Harry kissing Lilibet. It's actually adorable.
00:14:59
Speaker 1: Can't see her face.
00:15:00
Speaker 2: Of course you can't see her face. But it's notable. There's only one quick shot of the back of Archie where I think they're actually doing archery, I believe is what I saw.
00:15:11
Speaker 1: Archer doing archery. Yes. Okay.
00:15:13
Speaker 2: But this was one of my favorite reacts because, look, people were general. Most people were saying this is sweet. Look, posting for someone's birthday is not something you're going to take shots at normally, but someone still found a way to take a shot at what Meghan posted. I forgot it was Harry's birthday, but I also couldn't care less. Meghan Markle posted a photo montage of private citizen Harry and private citizen Lily with private second-class citizen Archie afterthought. Oh, my God. Kind of slapped in there. Most of the photos feature Markle, Harry, and Lily. It is true. Archie only got one quick shot. So they still found a way to criticize. I'm just saying she can't do anything right. Even in a post where she's celebrating... her husband, and showing sweet photos of him with his children, people still found a way to take a shot.
00:16:00
Speaker 1: Anything else you got in there? Anything fun?
00:16:02
Speaker 2: That was my favorite one that I found.
00:16:04
Speaker 1: I'm over here laughing at all the convoy things you talked about.
00:16:07
Speaker 2: Yes, you see it, right?
00:16:09
Speaker 1: Okay, sometimes the internet can be funny. X had a field day. These aren't mean. That's like a whole helicopter's coming in.
00:16:16
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, they said Harry can take his helicopter's license, put it back to use, and fly the kids. I saw that one.
00:16:22
Speaker 1: Is it true, though, that the future Williams kids, there are a bunch of pictures of Kate driving the kids to school and just hopping out and walking them up the street?
00:16:35
Speaker 2: Yeah, because look, they get the protection they need, but she is a public figure. The kids' faces, they're not. You know what? I wonder if Harry and Meghan look at them and say, wow. That's actually the way to go. You're public. The whole point of her hiding her kids' faces and hiding them, it just generates more fascination, more curiosity. People question the motive. If you just show them, they're public figures. You can't be public figures and demand privacy. If you want the security for being a public figure but demand to shield your children, it's just, again, they want to be half in, half out. They want to have it both ways. Look at what, yes, Kate going with the kids. Take your pictures. Kids smile. Walk into class. Everyone got their shots. Great.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: It's normal now and not a big deal. You're not being chased and pursued.
00:17:26
Speaker 2: It takes away the desire to get a shot or to have a chase because we're here. Take your pictures. Yes, we are the royal family. Have a good day.
00:17:38
Speaker 1: They can't do anything right. Even the birthday post. I don't know, babe.
00:17:43
Speaker 2: I don't know.
00:17:43
Speaker 1: I just I feel I do, babe. I don't know. It's just a shame.
00:17:48
Speaker 2: They're learning the hard way. I feel like each and every.
00:17:50
Speaker 1: Step of the way. They've been learning for six years about the missteps. And again, she has the right. They have the right to do what they want to do. And they do have the right to be private citizens, babe. Private citizens who want to be really famous.
00:18:03
Speaker 2: Or be also considered... public figures to get taxpayer-funded security. I'm just saying, they keep wanting to.
00:18:09
Speaker 1: Have things both ways.
00:18:11
Speaker 2: That's why people are like, pick, and you're making your choices, and then you don't like the consequences of your choices.
00:18:19
Speaker 1: Okay, you make a good point there. They're actually asking for taxpayer funding. I don't want to show you my kids, who are the, where are they in the line? There's Harry, no, excuse me, there's William, his son.
00:18:30
Speaker 2: Daughter, And then Louie.
00:18:34
Speaker 1: And then Harry.
00:18:35
Speaker 2: And then Harry.
00:18:36
Speaker 1: And then Archie.
00:18:37
Speaker 2: And then Archie.
00:18:38
Speaker 1: And then a little bit.
00:18:39
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
00:18:40
Speaker 1: This is a family. I mean, don't get me wrong, babe. God forbid. But you're still an heir to the throne.
00:18:47
Speaker 2: Yep.
00:18:47
Speaker 1: And you will not allow the public to see your kid's face. They have the right to do that. There's safety concerns. His mama died in all this foolishness. Robes, he understands and feels this in a way that I never can. So I don't want to take that away from him. Ugh. From Harry. But man, it's If you could sit down and just talk to them and say, hey, guys, what about this? Hey, Megan, let me have your phone.
00:19:09
Speaker 2: Just go put up a big old family photo, you all smiling, faces showing. Take your slow walk to the school, wave and smile, and just accept.
00:19:21
Speaker 1: But again, that's safety, baby. Again, if you thought your child's life was being threatened in some way.
00:19:28
Speaker 2: But then the argument is, why are you putting photos of them dangling carrots the backs of their heads?
00:19:34
Speaker 1: So give me that answer then. Why would you do that?
00:19:37
Speaker 2: Because she's trying to repair an image. She's trying to say, see, we're a happy family. See, our kids are well-adjusted.
00:19:42
Speaker 1: But she's always done that, has she not? She's always shown pictures of the kids, just not their faces.
00:19:46
Speaker 2: Right, but.
00:19:46
Speaker 1: So it's not a new thing, is it?
00:19:47
Speaker 2: No, it's not. But she's also, at the same time, asking for privacy. It doesn't make any sense.
00:19:53
Speaker 1: Who does this? I always go back to Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendez. We've never seen their kids, right? I have no idea.
00:19:58
Speaker 2: They don't show the backs of their heads.
00:19:59
Speaker 1: And she doesn't do the tease thing, right? Does anybody else do that?
00:20:02
Speaker 2: I've seen a couple actually former colleagues of ours put stars in front. But these are people who are not. I don't even understand. I'm like, why do you think anyone?
00:20:11
Speaker 1: Okay.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: But people make choices. I've seen people do that. I haven't seen a major star or celebrity do that.
00:20:20
Speaker 1: What is she giving us as a public? By letting us see a limited version of her kids. Does she seem like she's doing a service to us?
00:20:29
Speaker 2: No, it's a service. People make the argument, and I think it's hard to disagree with. She's trying to promote the image of her as a mother and Harry as a father.
00:20:39
Speaker 1: But genuinely, she wants to share that. That can be sincere. I'm trying to go with that, that genuinely any mom, any proud dad, they tweet too damn much or they put too much on Instagram. Is she just doing that?
00:20:51
Speaker 2: But what's the point of doing that if you're hiding faces? I don't understand either do it or don't. And I have no problem with doing it. I just don't understand, again, when you try to have it both ways, you lose everybody.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: This is too bad. These videos are hilarious, though. And they're not mean-spirited. Some of these are actually quite funny, like Humvees and tanks rolling up to the school in some of these images. It's funny.
00:21:16
Speaker 2: All right. More to come, I'm sure. With that, everyone, we always appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Robach alongside TJ Holmes.
00:21:23
Speaker 1: We'll talk soon.
Speaker 1: Hey there, folks. It's Tuesday, September 15th, and Harry and Meghan just can't catch a break. Now it's their kids that can't even catch a break. They just had their first day of school. It was also their last day at that school. And with that, welcome to this episode of Amy and TJ. How many actual days were separated the first day of school for the little prince and princess? And their last day at that school, it was a matter of what? Two days. Two days.
00:00:28
Speaker 2: They had two days at their new school. Think about these poor little kids. I'm serious. I know they're poor little prince and princess, but it is a very traumatic thing to do a big move to a different country, all new people. They sound different. They look different. You're told you're related to them. And you get to your new school. And you're like, okay, I'm going to get settled here. Kindergarten, what would it be? Kindergarten and second grade? I don't know how they do it in the UK, but that seems like that would be their ages. And yes, and so you're excited. You're meeting your new classmates, your new teachers, and all of a sudden, whammo, got to go to a new school again. What?
00:01:07
Speaker 1: Every parent can relate to this. It doesn't matter. When you... When you have to move towns, you're so upset about what that does to your kid and their friend circle. And then they have to start a new school and what that does to be the new kid somewhere, whatever.
00:01:21
Speaker 2: Man.
00:01:22
Speaker 1: I do. This one kind of breaks my heart for the kids.
00:01:24
Speaker 2: It is so sad. Look, I had to do, it was the middle of sixth grade. I went from St. Louis to Atlanta. That was a culture shock for me right there. And I still to this day remember, I mean, I spent two weeks of just feeling sick and scared and it just, It's a big deal for a kid to have to switch around like that and to have to adjust after just two days. And when you hear the reason why, it's kind of baffling. So this is coming from their camp. But apparently the distance between where they're living and where this school is, they thought it was going to be about a 45-minute, I guess, distance or something with heavy traffic. But they say that they were staying in too much distance stagnant traffic which created too big of a threat for the kids the convoys weren't able to stick together or the convoy couldn't stick together and so they had to abort because just the logistics of where the house is and where the school was did not jibe with their security team okay how did they not plan that out better.
00:02:27
Speaker 1: That seems really odd babe that a security detail wouldn't do that again don't want to criticize and we don't know what the circumstances are but roll just one of the first things security details do getting from point a to point b what is the route we're going to take what are the traffic patterns i just don't know robes a lot of planning has been going into them being at this school how you're going to get there every day and how you're going to get home it's thing one once they're in school should be fine What, Robes, how was this missed that this is so disruptive? We have to pull you out of school because we didn't know the traffic pattern?
00:02:59
Speaker 2: I know, that seems crazy. Look, I will say, when school started back here in New York City last week, I forgot it was the first day of school. And what it usually takes me to get to my hair appointment was doubled all of a sudden and I had to get out of the Uber and I'm like running to the appointment thinking about getting on a city bike because I didn't account for how much more time it takes when school's in session. I'm wondering if the security team was doing some of these runs.
00:03:29
Speaker 1: Stop.
00:03:29
Speaker 2: In the summer before school started, and they didn't realize how much worse it was going to be when school came back. Traffic doubles sometimes. Traffic time doubles when school's in session.
00:03:41
Speaker 1: You really think that's it?
00:03:42
Speaker 2: If they need to get a whole new security team, but that would make sense. Ruh-roh, we didn't realize it was going to take this long.
00:03:49
Speaker 1: Is there anything out there you've seen people questioning that maybe this ain't actually it? That's not really the thing? That's the issue? Because this seems like.
00:03:58
Speaker 2: The only conspiracy theory out there is that right at the time, and we'll get into this, Harry and Meghan's security detail is now being, or their ability to have any sort of government protection is being reconsidered for the first time since 2020. All of a sudden, they have a security concern now. With their kids getting to school. But I hardly believe that any parent would use their kid as a pawn to try and get what they want and have them get thrown into a school, pulled out of a school, have to go to a new school, all to get public funded security. But that is one of the operating conspiracy theories.
00:04:35
Speaker 1: Okay. I thought it was going to be more far-fetched than that because I realized, yes, they are up for review. Do they ask for it or they just kind of qualify this group over that it takes care of public figures?
00:04:45
Speaker 2: It seems as though they qualify for it.
00:04:47
Speaker 1: They qualify for it.
00:04:54
Speaker 2: Coming from the Sussexes, coming from Prince Harry and Meghan, that they were a little surprised at the king's warning, specifically calling them a private citizen versus a public figure. And that is part of the determination as to whether or not you're even qualified or considered a to be a part of this taxpayer-funded security detail.
00:05:17
Speaker 1: Okay, but you have to be deemed, you have to be classified a public figure. They can be private citizens, and they will always be public figures just by the level of their fame.
00:05:25
Speaker 2: And that's part of the argument.
00:05:27
Speaker 1: But the truth is, you are private citizens.
00:05:28
Speaker 2: Yes, but he made a point to call them private citizens, and so that was a little bit of the rub, I guess, because they're trying to get the public figure status.
00:05:37
Speaker 1: This royal stuff is fascinating.
00:05:39
Speaker 2: Isn't it crazy? Let's read the official statement coming from the Duke and Duchess regarding their children's abrupt school change. The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family 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 families. This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there. But it's just such a British way to put it.
00:06:15
Speaker 1: You're about to go to practicalities again.
00:06:18
Speaker 2: The practicalities of their current arrangement. Yeah, we didn't do our due diligence to figure out what it would be like to drive the kids to and from school.
00:06:28
Speaker 1: That's odd. It's just an odd thing to overlook. It's the first thing you have to do, baby. I don't know.
00:06:35
Speaker 2: It seems wild. Yes, we were discussing earlier, we literally have been sitting down with Sabine and looking at all of her high school options. And part of that entails, how are you getting there? How are you getting back? How long is it going to take? What are your options? Obviously, Ubers are too expensive. Can you get on the subway? Does this make sense?
00:06:54
Speaker 1: Well, you even brought up, it gets cold. It's going to be rainy. You're going to take that 45-minute train ride, even in the snow. You're All these things. We were doing this literally yesterday. And to hear that you have a whole security detail that missed the most basic of things, how you get to and from school, it just, that part lends itself. I will listen to a conspiracy theory. It just seems odd that you would miss that. The most basic thing.
00:07:19
Speaker 2: Yeah, I feel like the whole security team should be fired at this point then.
00:07:22
Speaker 1: We don't want to get on to them.
00:07:23
Speaker 2: But if they drop the ball on that basic and now your kids are having to now mentally and emotionally readjust within days, I would be pretty pissed off.
00:07:34
Speaker 1: Damn, I would be too.
00:07:35
Speaker 2: I would be very pissed off. But look, this all comes, yes, as Megan has now been granted a government-backed security review for the first time. Since she quit royal duties, Harry's review began back in July, so there's still no decision on him, but now Meghan's been added to it, and that's a very big deal.
00:07:55
Speaker 1: Ooh, this is going to be taxpayer money.
00:07:57
Speaker 2: Yes, so we've been told the Duke and Duchess will both imminently receive... An official risk assessment. And this is all the British newspapers and media outlets are reporting on this. This is a big deal. It's the Royal and VIP Executive Committee. It's called RAVEC. I don't know how they pronounce that acronym. But this oversees, this group oversees the tax-funded security for royalty and... And for public figures. So right now they're saying Harry and Meghan are giving this Royal and VIP Executive Committee details on their new daily routine, their school run, the addresses they routinely visit, the routes they take, and now the Home Office is going to be evaluating their level of threat.
00:08:44
Speaker 1: So for possibly giving them taxpayer-funded security?
00:08:47
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:08:48
Speaker 1: How is that going to read in British newspapers, that we have to pay for these two?
00:08:53
Speaker 2: Yes, we shall see, because... Little history here. It was February of 2020 when they decided to leave their official royal duties that they ruled that Harry was no longer going to be given the same degree of protection when he came back to the UK. He challenged that and lost in 2024. He went to court. He lost in 2024. And then he also lost in 2023 because he offered to privately pay Harry police for protection of him and his family. And they denied him that as well, because they say, we can't have wealthy people paying police officers for their personal security. So he even said, okay, fine. I won't ask the taxpayers to pay it. I'll pay it. And they still said no. So we'll see if there'll be, maybe there'll be some wiggle room there where they'll allow him to privately fund it, but have access to government security.
00:09:49
Speaker 1: He needs it. Because his current security doesn't even know how to do a Google map. Exactly.
00:09:55
Speaker 2: Apparently, they don't understand that traffic patterns change when kids go back to school.
00:10:00
Speaker 1: Okay, well, I need to stop because we seem like we have no idea. Because it seems like we're being critical of this security team. We don't know anything. If they are the ones, Robes, it seems something odd. What else could it be? But is it their responsibility? Is this on them? Is it that simple?
00:10:17
Speaker 2: It would be their one responsibility.
00:10:19
Speaker 1: What I'm saying was something else missed. Did someone else, were they told, yep, we're going to do this no matter what? Did they give a warning that, hey, this might be a problem? And then after a couple of days, I don't know. I just don't want to completely dump on the security team.
00:10:32
Speaker 2: It was described that they were sitting in too much traffic and that that was just, they said they were described as sitting ducks. And that was the concern, that they just felt like they can't be not moving. I mean, you think about a presidential convoy, anyone who's got some big official convoy, even, yes, the royals, they stop traffic and they keep moving because you don't want to be stopped for an extended period of time.
00:10:54
Speaker 1: I think there's a reason, but I think people know that now. The president, that level, folks, the president comes to the United States, his car, once it leaves the airport, does not stop moving at any point.
00:11:07
Speaker 2: Exactly.
00:11:07
Speaker 1: This entire city. They plant New York City police officers at every single intersection where there's a light. That car doesn't move. I understand that perfectly. The King's car never moves. You got to stay moving. Now, Robes, if you got.
00:11:23
Speaker 2: Oh, remember when we got to see him and we got to wave at him? I know. And he waved back.
00:11:26
Speaker 1: It was a big moment for us.
00:11:27
Speaker 2: He absolutely waved back.
00:11:29
Speaker 1: It wasn't at me. I assure you. But, Robes, yes.
00:11:34
Speaker 2: What.
00:11:35
Speaker 1: I'm trying to think of can these kids ever be treated like normal kids?
00:11:40
Speaker 2: No, of course they can't, especially when everyone wants to see their face.
00:11:43
Speaker 1: Here's my question, babe. Give me an example of some royal or the kids of a president or something that go about their lives in a normal way, meaning they go to a baseball game, they go take a drive, they go to a Starbucks. Will these kids ever be able to walk around normally if you can't even go to school? and be in line with the rest of your classmates? Can you line up outside? Like, how different of a life are they living, Robes? That convoy can be long, right? Not the convoy, the line for drop-off.
00:12:18
Speaker 2: Yes.
00:12:18
Speaker 1: Everybody's been in those before.
00:12:19
Speaker 2: You get backed up.
00:12:20
Speaker 1: Can they ever do that? How big is their convoy? How many vehicles are we talking about?
00:12:24
Speaker 2: I don't know, but there's people who are having a blast with it on X. showing like oh god this is how megan wants her kids to go to.
00:12:32
Speaker 1: School every day and it's like.
00:12:34
Speaker 3: Police and flashing lights and like a 12 cars coming down like dramatic as always yes so people are having a blast with it but when we come back we'll tell you about another social media post i thought megan might lay low she went the opposite route she posted again but for a good.
00:12:52
Speaker 2: Reason we'll explain when we come back Welcome back to Amy and TJ. Yes, Megan and Harry. We knew they would probably be in the headlines quite a bit now that they've moved back to the UK, but they have been in the headlines even more than we thought and for all the wrong reasons. Now they've got a problem with security, getting their kids to school. Apparently, they've enrolled them now in another school. British media have been reporting that they found another school. They're getting settled in. Everything's much better, yada, yada, yada. But guess what? Today is... Tuesday, September 15th, it is Prince Harry's 42nd birthday. Happy birthday.
00:13:39
Speaker 1: Happy birthday. It's good to be back home. What a big party at the castle.
00:13:43
Speaker 2: Oh, I'm sure. I'm sure there's going to be a big party tonight with King Charles, Camilla, his brother William, Kate. They're all, I'm sure, no, that's not being reported at all. But wouldn't that be nice? What if they had a surprise party for him at Buckingham Palace? And Meghan was going to get him there and the whole thing was being orchestrated.
00:14:06
Speaker 1: Okay, that would be awesome. She had to coordinate the whole thing.
00:14:10
Speaker 2: He's like the prodigal son. He returns home.
00:14:12
Speaker 1: That would be great.
00:14:13
Speaker 2: I know. So, well, he might not be getting a Buckingham surprise party, but he did get an Instagram post from his lovely wife, Megan, following all of the negative comments from her last post showing their idyllic life in the English countryside where people just roasted her for. She put up a post the following day. Happy birthday, Harry. She said, he's simply the best and simply the best was playing. But another version I wasn't aware of. Happy birthday, my love. And then it just showed a bunch of pics of him with Archie and Lilibet. Their faces, of course, blocked, masked in many ways. There's a really, really, really, really, really cute one of Harry kissing Lilibet. It's actually adorable.
00:14:59
Speaker 1: Can't see her face.
00:15:00
Speaker 2: Of course you can't see her face. But it's notable. There's only one quick shot of the back of Archie where I think they're actually doing archery, I believe is what I saw.
00:15:11
Speaker 1: Archer doing archery. Yes. Okay.
00:15:13
Speaker 2: But this was one of my favorite reacts because, look, people were general. Most people were saying this is sweet. Look, posting for someone's birthday is not something you're going to take shots at normally, but someone still found a way to take a shot at what Meghan posted. I forgot it was Harry's birthday, but I also couldn't care less. Meghan Markle posted a photo montage of private citizen Harry and private citizen Lily with private second-class citizen Archie afterthought. Oh, my God. Kind of slapped in there. Most of the photos feature Markle, Harry, and Lily. It is true. Archie only got one quick shot. So they still found a way to criticize. I'm just saying she can't do anything right. Even in a post where she's celebrating... her husband, and showing sweet photos of him with his children, people still found a way to take a shot.
00:16:00
Speaker 1: Anything else you got in there? Anything fun?
00:16:02
Speaker 2: That was my favorite one that I found.
00:16:04
Speaker 1: I'm over here laughing at all the convoy things you talked about.
00:16:07
Speaker 2: Yes, you see it, right?
00:16:09
Speaker 1: Okay, sometimes the internet can be funny. X had a field day. These aren't mean. That's like a whole helicopter's coming in.
00:16:16
Speaker 2: Oh yeah, they said Harry can take his helicopter's license, put it back to use, and fly the kids. I saw that one.
00:16:22
Speaker 1: Is it true, though, that the future Williams kids, there are a bunch of pictures of Kate driving the kids to school and just hopping out and walking them up the street?
00:16:35
Speaker 2: Yeah, because look, they get the protection they need, but she is a public figure. The kids' faces, they're not. You know what? I wonder if Harry and Meghan look at them and say, wow. That's actually the way to go. You're public. The whole point of her hiding her kids' faces and hiding them, it just generates more fascination, more curiosity. People question the motive. If you just show them, they're public figures. You can't be public figures and demand privacy. If you want the security for being a public figure but demand to shield your children, it's just, again, they want to be half in, half out. They want to have it both ways. Look at what, yes, Kate going with the kids. Take your pictures. Kids smile. Walk into class. Everyone got their shots. Great.
00:17:22
Speaker 1: It's normal now and not a big deal. You're not being chased and pursued.
00:17:26
Speaker 2: It takes away the desire to get a shot or to have a chase because we're here. Take your pictures. Yes, we are the royal family. Have a good day.
00:17:38
Speaker 1: They can't do anything right. Even the birthday post. I don't know, babe.
00:17:43
Speaker 2: I don't know.
00:17:43
Speaker 1: I just I feel I do, babe. I don't know. It's just a shame.
00:17:48
Speaker 2: They're learning the hard way. I feel like each and every.
00:17:50
Speaker 1: Step of the way. They've been learning for six years about the missteps. And again, she has the right. They have the right to do what they want to do. And they do have the right to be private citizens, babe. Private citizens who want to be really famous.
00:18:03
Speaker 2: Or be also considered... public figures to get taxpayer-funded security. I'm just saying, they keep wanting to.
00:18:09
Speaker 1: Have things both ways.
00:18:11
Speaker 2: That's why people are like, pick, and you're making your choices, and then you don't like the consequences of your choices.
00:18:19
Speaker 1: Okay, you make a good point there. They're actually asking for taxpayer funding. I don't want to show you my kids, who are the, where are they in the line? There's Harry, no, excuse me, there's William, his son.
00:18:30
Speaker 2: Daughter, And then Louie.
00:18:34
Speaker 1: And then Harry.
00:18:35
Speaker 2: And then Harry.
00:18:36
Speaker 1: And then Archie.
00:18:37
Speaker 2: And then Archie.
00:18:38
Speaker 1: And then a little bit.
00:18:39
Speaker 2: Mm-hmm.
00:18:40
Speaker 1: This is a family. I mean, don't get me wrong, babe. God forbid. But you're still an heir to the throne.
00:18:47
Speaker 2: Yep.
00:18:47
Speaker 1: And you will not allow the public to see your kid's face. They have the right to do that. There's safety concerns. His mama died in all this foolishness. Robes, he understands and feels this in a way that I never can. So I don't want to take that away from him. Ugh. From Harry. But man, it's If you could sit down and just talk to them and say, hey, guys, what about this? Hey, Megan, let me have your phone.
00:19:09
Speaker 2: Just go put up a big old family photo, you all smiling, faces showing. Take your slow walk to the school, wave and smile, and just accept.
00:19:21
Speaker 1: But again, that's safety, baby. Again, if you thought your child's life was being threatened in some way.
00:19:28
Speaker 2: But then the argument is, why are you putting photos of them dangling carrots the backs of their heads?
00:19:34
Speaker 1: So give me that answer then. Why would you do that?
00:19:37
Speaker 2: Because she's trying to repair an image. She's trying to say, see, we're a happy family. See, our kids are well-adjusted.
00:19:42
Speaker 1: But she's always done that, has she not? She's always shown pictures of the kids, just not their faces.
00:19:46
Speaker 2: Right, but.
00:19:46
Speaker 1: So it's not a new thing, is it?
00:19:47
Speaker 2: No, it's not. But she's also, at the same time, asking for privacy. It doesn't make any sense.
00:19:53
Speaker 1: Who does this? I always go back to Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendez. We've never seen their kids, right? I have no idea.
00:19:58
Speaker 2: They don't show the backs of their heads.
00:19:59
Speaker 1: And she doesn't do the tease thing, right? Does anybody else do that?
00:20:02
Speaker 2: I've seen a couple actually former colleagues of ours put stars in front. But these are people who are not. I don't even understand. I'm like, why do you think anyone?
00:20:11
Speaker 1: Okay.
00:20:12
Speaker 2: But people make choices. I've seen people do that. I haven't seen a major star or celebrity do that.
00:20:20
Speaker 1: What is she giving us as a public? By letting us see a limited version of her kids. Does she seem like she's doing a service to us?
00:20:29
Speaker 2: No, it's a service. People make the argument, and I think it's hard to disagree with. She's trying to promote the image of her as a mother and Harry as a father.
00:20:39
Speaker 1: But genuinely, she wants to share that. That can be sincere. I'm trying to go with that, that genuinely any mom, any proud dad, they tweet too damn much or they put too much on Instagram. Is she just doing that?
00:20:51
Speaker 2: But what's the point of doing that if you're hiding faces? I don't understand either do it or don't. And I have no problem with doing it. I just don't understand, again, when you try to have it both ways, you lose everybody.
00:21:04
Speaker 1: This is too bad. These videos are hilarious, though. And they're not mean-spirited. Some of these are actually quite funny, like Humvees and tanks rolling up to the school in some of these images. It's funny.
00:21:16
Speaker 2: All right. More to come, I'm sure. With that, everyone, we always appreciate you listening to us. I'm Amy Robach alongside TJ Holmes.
00:21:23
Speaker 1: We'll talk soon.
Apple Podcasts
Spotify
Castro
RSS Feed