Let’s set the scene, shall we? Last Thursday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visited the headquarters of the Disaster Emergency Committee in London to learn more about its work supporting Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion. All in all, very compelling and important work.
But just as the couple was about to step in a car (to…IDK…presumably tend to more royal duties), a broadcaster shouted an off-topic Q to William saying, “Sir, does the Queen need protecting?” The couple chose not to respond and instead continued walking towards the vehicle.
Now, if you didn’t know any better, you miiiight be confused about why this question was asked. After all, isn’t it assumed that the Queen of England always needs protecting? Does she currently need more protecting than usual? How come? Can we sign up to be additional security? (You get the point.)
It turns out that the moment turned out to be v important because the added protection the broadcaster was referring to can be traced to a recent interview Prince Harry had with Hoda Kotb during the Invictus Games in the Netherlands. So, yah…
Not only did the royal couple fully dodge the question, but they quickly pivoted to focusing on Queen Elizabeth II’s 96th birthday, which was also on Thursday.Anyway, back to Harry’s original interview with Hoda, which inspired the Q. Harry was most recently spotted in the Netherlands for the Invictus Games—an international sports competition for wounded military veterans—and took the time to speak with the NBC Today show host about his life in America as well as his recent surprise visit to see the Queen.
(P.S. This visit marked the first time Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Sussex has returned to the U.K. since March 2020. Harry, on the other hand, went back for the late Prince Philip’s funeral in April 2021 and for the unveiling of a statue honoring Princess Diana in July 2021.)
Wishing Her Majesty The Queen a very happy 96th birthday today!
An inspiration to so many across the UK, the Commonwealth and the world, it’s particularly special to be celebrating in this #PlatinumJubilee year. pic.twitter.com/iWfyorcd8I
— The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) April 21, 2022
During the interview, which aired last Wednesday, the prince mentioned it was “great” being with the Queen, saying, “It was just so nice to see her…She’s on great form. I’m just making sure that she’s, you know, protected and got the right people around her. You know, home—home for me, now is, you know, for the time being, is in the States.” Okay, cryptic!
The Duke of Sussex also mentioned that his relationship with the Queen Elizabeth II is “really special,” adding they “talk about things that she can’t talk about with anybody else.”Hoda also took the opportunity during the interview to ask Harry whether he missed his family, namely his older brother William and their father, Prince Charles, which the royal responded to in a rather…cryptic way.
Prince William was asked by a female reporter if the "Queen needs protecting" as he and Kate left the London Headquarters of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) on Thursday morning.
The couple did not respond when asked the question. pic.twitter.com/F9TszP9l59
— The Royal Family Channel (@RoyalFamilyITNP) April 21, 2022
(Please feel free to take a shot every time you read the word “cryptic.”) The duke responded by saying, “For me, in the moment, I am here to focus on these guys (AKA those involved in the Invictus Games) and these families.”Despite all of these recent reports, however, we think (hope) everything’s fine. A source exclusively revealed to US Weekly that even though the brothers didn’t reunite at the palace, it was “purely coincidental” because Prince William was on a ski trip when Harry was in town.
“Harry is coming back to visit soon and hopes to see William in person. They are trying to figure things out…Harry and Meghan had a wonderful time seeing the Queen again. It was one of the biggest highlights of their year so far.” See? There you go. Definitely less cryptic vibes here!🥂
