Prince Harry and Megan Markle are expected to take the Netflix film crew with them for a private meeting with the Ukrainian team as they head to the Invictus Games in the Netherlands this weekend, it may be revealed.
Netflix will track the Duke and Duchess of Sussex throughout the trip as part of the couple’s $ 100 million deal with media giant, which is making a documentary about the Paralympic-style games for military veterans.
The film’s crew will have exclusive access to the couple in The Hague and is expected to film the closed-door meeting between Harry and Megan and the Invictus team from the war-torn country.
Meanwhile, security teams were spotted around The Hague today with watch dogs and police, as a steel ring was placed before the royal couple arrived from California for Saturday’s opening ceremony.
Harry and Megan – who were given so-called VVIP (very, very important) status by the Dutch authorities – will also be photographed honoring the competitors and their families during their journey.
However, critics have accused the couple of profiting from the games by allowing Netflix cameras to participate in private meetings. And royal experts say the couple’s VVIP status will allow Netflix to portray the couple – heavily criticized for not attending the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial – in a particularly favorable light.
This comes after sources close to the couple revealed that Harry and Megan will receive “VVIP” status in the Netherlands, which will provide them with local protection of the highest level – which will be seen as an attempt to justify their absence. at the Prince Philip Memorial. service at Westminster Abbey last month over security concerns.
Prince Harry and Megan Markle (pictured in 2018) leave for Invictus Games in the Netherlands, which starts on Saturday
Security at Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague has been stepped up today, two days before the Games
Police, military and security guards are patrolling today at the Zuiderpark in The Hague, the Netherlands
“The Netflix crew will definitely be filming Harry and Megan,” said Talk Radio royal commentator Charles Ray.
“It will look as if they are still members of the royal family when they are private citizens. This will be the whole goal of showing people that they still consider themselves very important people. It will undoubtedly be a great game of the “VVIP” status given to them by the Dutch authorities. “
The film crew is expected to travel with the same armed police guard who will take Harry and Megan to Zuiderpark Stadium, where the opening ceremony will take place on Saturday.
They will also capture the emotional moment when Harry and Megan meet with members of the Ukrainian squad, whose presence is marked by heartache over the loss of four of their former colleagues who died defending their country.
The trip marks a return to the limelight for Megan, whose previous high-level appearances were an interview with Oprah Winfrey and a very shaky participation in the Ellen DeGenris show.
The Netflix documentary series, which takes a week to shoot while the games are set, is called Heart of Darkness.
Security at Sportcampus Zuiderpark ahead of the Invictus Games, which begin with Saturday’s opening ceremony
Police, military and security guards are patrolling today at the Zuiderpark in The Hague, the Netherlands
Security at Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague has been stepped up today, two days before the Games
This is the couple’s first co-production with Archewell Productions and is being made by Oscar-winning team director Orlando von Einsiedel and producer Joanna Natasegara.
They are responsible for the widely acclaimed White Helmets documentary about those who responded during the Syrian conflict.
According to Archwell, the documentary series will “show powerful stories of resilience and hope from competitors on their way to Invictus Games.”
The meeting between the royal couple and the Ukrainian team is expected to be one of the most emotional moments of the one-week games, which are attended by athletes from 20 nations.
Their arrival at Schiphol Airport was marked by heartache after four members of the squad died defending their country.
Sergei Smilin was killed in arms on March 18, while former Invictus athletes Vladimir Motelchuk and Dmitry Oliynik lost their lives in rocket attacks on March 29, and former tricycle Sergei Karadzhan was killed in battle on March 13.
Security at Sportcampus Zuiderpark ahead of the Invictus Games, which begin with Saturday’s opening ceremony
Security at Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague has been stepped up today, two days before the Games
Police, military and security guards are patrolling today at the Zuiderpark in The Hague, the Netherlands
“They have all been extremely active in the international Invictus community on the We Are Invictus platform, competing in events over the past year, including the virtual London marathon and online rowing championships,” said an Invictus spokesman.
Megan is expected to arrive in the Netherlands with her husband on Friday and is expected to stay for four days.
A minute of silence will be observed for those killed in the conflict in Ukraine at the beginning of the opening ceremony at the Zuiderpark in The Hague on Saturday night.
This will be Megan’s first overseas trip since she left the royal family in 2020 and moved to California.
The event was postponed twice due to the pandemic, and it was at the 2017 Games in Toronto that the royal couple was seen together for the first time. Months later, they announced their engagement.
Understandably, Harry and Megan will not have an audience with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima during their stay and will instead have to spend the night in a hotel in The Hague.
The Dutch royal family has traditionally hosted foreign royals, but a spokesman confirmed that such an olive branch would not be extended to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.
The couple received VVIP status from the authorities and will be protected by members of the local police and their own private security team.
Royal experts today suggested that Harry and Megan would use their VVIP status in the Netherlands in their dispute with the Home Office, where it requires full police protection when visiting the UK.
Sportcampus Zuiderpark in The Hague today, which hosts this year’s Invictus Games
Security at Sportcampus Zuiderpark ahead of the Invictus Games, which begin with Saturday’s opening ceremony
Harry was absent from the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service in London last month amid a lawsuit against the Home Office after he was told he would no longer receive the same level of personal protection when visiting the United States, although he offered to pay for it himself. . .
The duke wanted to bring his children to visit the United Kingdom, but he said the family “could not return home” because it was too dangerous, according to a legal representative.
Royal author Phil Dampier said the couple would try to use the level of protection they receive in the Netherlands to prove to UK authorities that they should have the same when visiting.
“Harry and Megan are no longer members of the royal family and have said they are private until security is at stake,” Mr Dampier said.
“They do not deserve the status of VVIP, as they are no longer members of the royal family. I suspect that the Dutch authorities have given them VVIP status to reassure them.
“It is foolish to say that they would not have received full security if they had bothered to attend Prince Philip’s memorial service. They would be in the royal balloon and have complete security during the voyage.
– The security or lack thereof was an excuse. The real reason for not presenting was the huge rift with the rest of the family.
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