Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's story in doubt AGAIN as letters reveal Queen DID want couple to have 'effective security'

PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle’s story has again been called into question as letters revealed the Queen wanted them to have “effective security”.

It comes after the Duke of Sussex told a court yesterday that he had been “forced to leave” his UK home as he fought a battle for his safety.

Harry has argued that insurance for him and Meghan should be paid for by UK taxpayersCredit: PA

Prince Harry leaves the High Court in London on bailCredit: Gavin Rodgers/ Pixel8000

The Queen has taken a personal interest in Harry’s security arrangementsCredit: AP Photo/Matt Dunham

The Duke of Sussex is challenging the decision to scale back his publicly funded security detail after stepping down as an active royal in 2020.

In a statement read on his behalf in court, Harry said he felt “forced” to leave the UK after the security downgrade.

But now letters between the late queen’s top aide and the then cabinet secretary, shown in court, show how the monarch felt it was “imperative” that they maintain “effective security”.

Sir Edward Young wrote to Sir Mark Sedwill, explaining that the preservation of the security of Sussex was “of the utmost importance to Her Majesty and her family”.

This casts doubt on Harry and Meghan’s story that the royal family cut them off, reports The Daily Telegraph.

In his autobiography Spare, Harry says he was “desperate” to maintain his safety and begged his family – including the late Queen – to continue with armed police protection.

He says he told them: “Look. I pray. Meg and I don’t care about privileges, we care about working, serving – and staying alive”.

Harry says he was facing “total abandonment”.

In a statement read out in court yesterday, Harry wrote: “It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt compelled to step down from this role and leave the country in 2020.

“The United Kingdom is my home. The United Kingdom is central to my children’s heritage and a place I want them to feel as much at home as where they currently live in the United States.

“That cannot happen if there is no way for them to be safe while on UK soil.

“I can’t expose my wife to danger like that, and given my life experiences, I hesitate to unnecessarily expose myself to danger.”

The statement differs from one Harry and Meghan wrote in January 2020 – at the time of their departure from Megxit – which said they “chose” to leave rather than being “forced”.

It read: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have decided to make the transition this year and begin shaping a progressive new role within this institution.

“We intend to retire as ‘senior’ members of the royal family and work towards becoming financially independent while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.

“It is with your encouragement, especially over the last few years, that we feel ready to make this adjustment.”

The Sussexes stepped back from royal duties in March 2020 when they moved to the United States.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) decided that Harry should no longer have the same level of security as senior members of the royal family.

But his legal team says there was a lack of transparency and that the usual risk analysis was not applied.

The Duke’s team say his private security reported the problems to the Met after he was “stopped by paparazzi” at the WellChild 2021 event.

But Sir James said the details were not provided within the required 28-day deadline.

He added that the duke “is now aware of the importance of giving notice and has generally given the intended itinerary”.

The Sun has contacted the Sussexes for comment.

It comes as King Charles refuses to let Prince Harry “emotionally blackmail” him over the “royal race row” scandal, The Sun can reveal.

The Dutch version of Omid Scobie’s book Endgame named the king as one of the “two identities” Meghan accused of causing “concerns” about Archie’s skin colour.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the drama, and Harry and Meghan remained silent.

But sources close to King Charles say he is “not worried” about his name appearing in the Dutch version and remains “full of energy”.

He told friends he was “not going to be emotionally blackmailed by his own son” after Harry appeared to be using his children in his ongoing battle with the royal family.