Prince Harry 'Disrespectful' For Skipping Prince Philip Memorial Service, Royal Expert Claims

Prince Harry's decision to skip an event honoring his late grandfather Prince Philip continues to raise eyebrows.

A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle confirmed earlier this month that the couple won't be returning to the U.K. for the service of thanksgiving honoring Prince Philip that will be held on March 29. The Duke of Edinburgh, who was Queen Elizabeth's husband of 73 years, died aged 99 in April 2021.

Royal expert Robert Jobson, author of "Prince Philip's Century: The Extraordinary Life of the Duke of Edinburgh," said he was disappointed with Prince Harry for his decision to skip the family affair while choosing to push through with the Invictus Games, which will be hosted in The Hague, The Netherlands, shortly after the memorial service.

"It's disappointing [because there] doesn't appear to be any serious reason why he can't be there," Jobson told Us Weekly.

"He's going to Holland for the Invictus Games shortly afterward," the royal expert noted, before adding that it's "disrespectful" to his family that Prince Harry won't join them at the event.

Jobson further claimed that despite reports to the contrary, he doesn't think there's "much of a relationship between Charles and Harry at the moment" amid their recent ups and downs

The royal biographer also suggested that Prince Harry's upcoming tell-all "could be something that never heals [the rift]" within the royal family, depending on what he writes about them.

This came after a spokesperson for the Sussexes released a statement last week saying, "The Duke will not be returning to the U.K. in late March but hopes to visit his grandmother as soon as possible."

However, Prince Harry is expected to attend the fifth annual Invictus Games in The Hague from April 16 to 22. The international sporting event founded by the prince sees wounded, injured and sick serving personnel and veterans compete in a series of athletic games.

Jobson was not the only one who has criticized the Duke of Sussex's decision not to attend his late grandfather's memorial service amid Prince Harry's battle with the U.K. government over security.

On Monday's episode of "Loose Women," radio and television broadcaster Carol McGiffin said of Prince Harry, "Has he got any more toys he can throw out of this pram? I just don't think there's any excuse for him not to attend [Philip's] memorial."

When host Ruth Langsford noted that Prince Harry "doesn't feel safe" going back to the U.K. without police protection in place, another panelist, Linda Robson, pointed out that the duke would be reuniting with the royal family at the memorial service, and they are expected to have police protection at the venue.

"Exactly!" McGiffin chimed in. "The whole royal family will be there. Do you think there won't be any form of protection? What makes [Harry] so special? What makes him think there's more of a threat to him if he's there [than] the rest of his family?"

"He's not doing himself any favors at all by not going," she added.