Harry and Meghan’s New York City Visit: A Royal Circus in the Big Apple

Back in September of 2021, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, Harry and Meghan, made their way to New York City to attend the Global Citizen Live event.

Their main focus was to raise awareness about vaccine equity.

However, their visit seemed to conveniently overlook the COVAX vaccine sharing program.

The couple also took the opportunity to embark on what can only be described as a royal tour, reminiscent of their days as working members of the British royal family.

During their time in the city, Harry and Meghan had the chance to meet with the Mayor of New York City and the Governor of New York State.

They also paid a visit to the solemn 9-11 memorial, an act befitting true royals.

According to the Daily Mail, their arrival at the Carlisle hotel was nothing short of a spectacle.

They were accompanied by a fleet of cars and approximately 20 security guards.

It was a true circus that had come to town.

On their first night in the city, the couple enjoyed drinks at the renowned Bemelman’s Bar, accompanied by their close friend Misha Nonoo and her husband, Mike Hess.

However, even in this sophisticated establishment, one cannot always trust the crowd.

Although the bar is usually frequented by mature Upper East Side regulars and those seeking a refined atmosphere, it was clear that this time was different.

New York was still cautiously emerging from lockdown, and Bemelman’s Bar was operating at 50% capacity.

This meant that tables that could have been occupied by paying customers were taken up by the couple’s security team.

After three hours, they discreetly left through the back door, without any near-catastrophic car chases.

The New York Hilton Midtown holds a special place in Meghan’s heart, as it was where she received her Ripple of Hope awards in December 2022.

It seems that collecting awards in function rooms has become somewhat of a habit for her.

During their stay at the hotel, Meghan arranged for Backgrid to capture shots of her and Harry with Misha Nonoo and her husband inside the hotel’s exclusive restaurant.

However, the hotel management was furious when these photos were published.

It raised questions about the establishment’s discretion, potentially leading to a loss of high-net-worth clients.

Not only did the couple cause controversy with their actions, but they also displayed rude behavior towards the hotel staff.

Witnesses reported that they spoke down to the employees and had a strict “no eye contact” rule.

Furthermore, the staff were instructed not to initiate any conversation with Harry or Meghan unless spoken to first.

As a result of their behavior, the Carlisle hotel reportedly placed the couple on a blacklist, according to one of Meghan’s insiders.

A royal fan living in New York shared their experience of the visit, revealing that the Duke and Duchess arrived with a convoy of around 10 SUVs and an extensive security detail.

Interestingly, the number of police officers and off-duty NYPD personnel outnumbered any fans or crowds that gathered to catch a glimpse of the couple.