Prince Harry and Meghan Markle faced a wave of disapproval from Austin taxpayers as they sought government-funded security to accompany them to a private jet.
The royal couple was spotted at the San Antonio airport, likely preparing to depart Texas after their visit.
During their time in the state, Prince Harry showed his support for Meghan as she delivered a keynote speech at SXSW on Friday.
Following the festival, the duo paid a visit to the residence of Irma Garcia, a schoolteacher tragically lost in the Valdez school shooting of 2022.
A snapshot capturing Meghan and Harry at the airport surfaced on Instagram, courtesy of Deux Moi’s Sunday Sighted series, dedicated to sharing celebrity sightings from the week.
The image depicted the couple from behind as they strolled through the airport.
Prince Harry sported a navy jumper with rolled-up sleeves, paired with dark wash jeans and carried his jacket.
Meghan walked alongside him, sporting sunglasses atop her head, a black shirt, leggings, and flats.
She carried a white jacket and an oversized white bag, with her hand resting on Harry’s lower back.
Reports emerged from a source within the airport staff, suggesting that Harry and Meghan were accompanied by government-funded security to their private jet.
However, they attempted to maintain the facade of traveling commercially by using a separate entrance near a United Airlines sign.
A claim was made that had they truly flown commercial, they would have utilized the standard boarding entrance accessible to all passengers.
Observers noted Meghan’s awareness of someone filming them, leading to her gesture on Harry’s back, seemingly for the cameras.
The orchestrated scene was perceived as an effort to enhance their public image ahead of their attendance at the Invictus Games ceremony in London.
The couple’s aim is to project a regal appearance to American audiences and negotiate with the government, a notion debunked by the fact that neither holds a political position within the British system.
Even senior royals do not engage in governmental negotiations, as the monarchy and government operate as distinct entities under the monarch’s authority.
Criticism from Austin taxpayers surfaced online, with one individual expressing dismay over their tax contributions being allocated towards the protection of the royal pair.
Another questioned the necessity of a police escort, highlighting a preference for taxpayer funds to support alternative causes rather than catering to the couple’s aspirations of establishing a royal presence in the United States.
The extravagant display of entitlement and the perceived need for heightened security to shield them from the public scrutiny drew ire from the community.
Reflecting on the lack of public attention without the police escort, some observers remarked on the couple’s inflated sense of importance.
The absence of crowds surrounding them underscored the notion that their significance was exaggerated, prompting reflections on Harry’s diminished status post-royalty.
The unfolding saga of Meghan and Harry’s quest for recognition and security funding in Austin encapsulates a narrative of public skepticism towards their motives and actions, underscoring the challenges faced by the former royals in navigating their post-monarchy identities.