Meghan Markle made THIRTEEN foreign trips despite claiming Palace aides seized her IDs
So much for a ‘confiscated’ passport! Meghan Markle made THIRTEEN foreign trips despite claiming Palace aides seized her IDs
- Meghan told Oprah Winfrey she ‘turned over’ her passport after joining family
- However, she embarked on 13 holidays abroad from 2016 to September 2019
- Insiders claim she would have presented her passport on arrival at 12 nations
Meghan Markle made at least 13 trips abroad after her relationship with Prince Harry emerged – despite claiming her passport was seized when she ‘joined the family.’
The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah Winfrey she ‘turned over’ her passport alongside her driving licence and keys when she was welcomed into ‘The Firm’ in 2016.
In her bombshell interview with the US talk show host – in which she also alleged she was ‘silenced’ by the Palace – the mother-to-be said ‘all of that gets turned over’ once you join the Royal Family.
She added: ‘When I joined that family, that was the last time I saw my passport, my driving licence, my keys – all of that gets turned over.’
Meghan, 39, suggested she didn’t see her passport again until she and Harry quit as senior royals and moved to California.
Meghan Markle made at least 13 trips abroad after her relationship with Prince Harry emerged – despite claiming her passport was seized when she ‘joined the family’
The Duchess of Sussex told Oprah Winfrey she ‘turned over’ her passport alongside her driving licence and keys when she was welcomed into ‘The Firm’ in 2016. Pictured: Meghan and Harry departing Windsor Castle after their wedding in 2018
However, it has emerged the Duchess visited 13 countries as a tourist from when she started dating Prince Harry to September 2019 – when the couple jetted off to Italy for fashion designer Misha Nonoo’s lavish wedding.
Meghan and Harry announced they were stepping back as senior members of the Royal Family the following January.
Sources have claimed Meghan must have presented her passport to officials at 12 countries she visited during this period, the Sun reported.
Although the Queen does not require a passport to travel, all other members of the Royal Family are required to carry one when heading abroad.
Meghan visited New York alone in 2019 for a baby shower before welcoming her son Archie
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan arrive to attend the wedding of fashion designer Misha Nonoo at Villa Aurelia in Rome, Italy in September 2019
Insiders suggested the Duchess’ passport may have been taken for safekeeping, but claimed she still would have used it for her trips abroad.
Author Margaret Holder added: ‘Of course the Royal Family would want to keep Meghan’s passport safe.
‘But it’s unthinkable she didn’t carry it for personal and private trips such as her New York baby shower, travelling to see friends in Canada, partying in Amsterdam and going to Lake Como with George Clooney.’
Meghan and Harry took their first trip together just six weeks after their relationship began in 2016, when the Prince took his now wife to a safari camp in Botswana.
They later jetted off to Lake Como to visit George Clooney and his wife Amal in August 2018, before taking trips to Amsterdam, France and Toronto.
In August 2019, the couple celebrated Meghan’s 38th birthday at the exclusive Vista Alegre villa complex in Ibiza.
Meghan also visited New York in February 2019 for a baby shower before welcoming son Archie.
Alongside several holidays, the couple also took trips to Morocco, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand as part of three Royal Tours.
MailOnline has contacted Buckingham Palace for comment.
It comes as the Queen yesterday broke her silence on Harry and Meghan’s explosive interview to say that ‘while some recollections may vary’ the ‘whole family is saddened’ to hear of the couple’s ‘challenging few years’.
Her Majesty said an alleged racist comment made about what colour the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s baby Archie would be was ‘concerning’ and will be ‘addressed by the family privately’.
The monarch will reportedly speak to senior royals – including Charles, Camilla, William and Kate – behind closed doors over the couple’s allegations.
Her statement added that Harry and Meghan – using their names rather than titles – and their son ‘will always be much loved family members’.
The Queen said: ‘The whole family is saddened to learn the full extent of how challenging the last few years have been for Harry and Meghan.
‘The issues raised, particularly that of race, are concerning. While some recollections may vary, they are taken very seriously and will be addressed by the family privately. Harry, Meghan and Archie will always be much loved family members.’
It was added yesterday that the Queen will now extend a personal olive branch to Harry and Meghan as she takes charge of the fallout from their television interview.
They later jetted off to Lake Como (pictured) to visit George Clooney and his wife Amal in August 2018, before taking trips to Amsterdam, France and Toronto
In her bombshell interview with the US talk show host – in which she also alleged she was ‘silenced’ by the Palace – the mother-to-be said ‘all of that gets turned over’
With senior royals still ‘reeling’ following a series of explosive allegations by the couple, she has issued a ‘three-line whip’ to prevent staff discussing the situation publicly.
It is understood that she intends to try to pour oil on troubled waters by reaching out to her grandson and his wife in California instead.
It is expected that they will speak on the phone in the next few days.
Although Harry and Meghan were informed of Buckingham Palace’s statement on the issue prior to its release on Tuesday evening, this was done through officials.
But the Queen believes now is the time for a more personal approach.
