Australian television host Karl Stefanovic has criticised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle amid the couple's ongoing security row.
The pair have requested private security ahead of their visit to Netherlands this weekend for the Invictus Games, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex set to travel with a private security team, whilst also being looked after by in-country officials.
Meghan and Harry failed to make it over for Prince Philip's recent memorial due to security concerns, and as The Today Show presenters Karl and Allison Langdon hosted a chat with The Daily Mirror's Royal Editor Russell Myers, Karl slammed the Duke of Sussex for refusing to come and visit his family in the UK, despite being really close.
Russell explained: "He skipped Prince Philip's memorial. The rest of the Royal Family were there. There were royals from all over Europe and still Harry and Megan couldn't be bothered to turn up. It's ridiculous."
Then Allison chimed in, to add: "It's getting harder and harder to defend them."
However, it was Karl's comments which drew the most attention, as he said: "I can't even look at them. I used to like Harry and even Meghan back in the day. Maybe the first season of Suits. Then it was all downhill from there."
Harry and Meghan have now been given 'VVIP status' ahead of their trip to the Netherlands, with security sources confirming to The Mirror that the couple's private security team has spoken to Dutch authorities in a bid to secure a "high level multi-agency protection programme" for the pair for the whole time they are there.
This includes direct links to law enforcement and emergency services, and there will also be a "detailed extraction process" in the event of a "personal or larger scale terror attack".
"Harry and Meghan have received absolute top assurances that there is no credible threat to their safety. This is the view of the Dutch authorities and other agencies across the continent," a source explained.
The insider added to The Daily Mirror: "In any case, as they are attending a high profile event in the Netherlands both the Duke and Duchess have been classed as VVIPs for the duration of their stay and overall responsibility for their safety at all times while in the Netherlands will be with the Dutch authorities."
Dutch authorities have told the couple's security team that they can't have armed security when they travel to Holland, but have given "high level assurances their protection is a priority".
