Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were in New York City last week for the latter's new award. The Duchess of Sussex was among the honorees of Gloria Steinem's Women of Vision Awards.
However, they were involved in a car chase with "aggressive paparazzi" when they left the venue. An unnamed insider called them "cheap" for not staying in a hotel.
Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Called 'Cheap'
Unnamed law enforcement sources told the New York Post's Page Six that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were staying at a friend's residence on the Upper East Side when they were in the Big Apple last week. They allegedly asked Princess Diana's favorite hotel, Carlyle, for a discount but got turned down.
An NYC law enforcement source told the outlet:
"They should have just gotten a hotel for the safety of everyone. Instead, they were cheap and wanted a free place to stay. Harry and Meghan's people called the Carlyle ahead of the trip and asked for a discounted room, and the hotel said no."
The insider continued:
"If they had just paid up and got a hotel in the first place, this supposed 'dangerous' paparazzi chase around town would never have happened. They would have been driven back to the Carlyle, been photographed going inside and that would have been the end of it."
The outlet noted that the Sussexes have stayed at the Carlyle on their previous visits. The prices of the rooms in the hotel range from $1,240 to $6,000.
Security expert Mark Selden said the couple would have avoided the "near catastrophic" car chase had they opted to stay in a nearby hotel. According to him, the security hotels offer cannot be enjoyed in a residential townhouse.
He told Fox News Digital:
"There is security, doorman, porters and staff [in the hotel]. You have built-in safety. If anyone breaks in, you have your own security based on your own floor, standing outside your door or situated in the rooms next door to you or across the hall. You are essentially in a fortress."
Twitter Reacts To Claim Meghan Markle, Prince Harry Are Cheap
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex's decision to spend their time in NYC at a friend's home received mixed responses from netizens. Some understood their decision, while others speculated that they had money issues.
One suggested:
"I don't believe it's because they're too cheap. I think they're broke. Sam said that was the reason why [Prince Harry] showed up at the coronation [of King Charles] because he needs money and is holding the rest of the money that the queen mother left him. I think it does not [get] released until he's 45."
Another added.
"You got dressed up for an amazing awards ceremony. Then it took you two hours to get home. What a downer. Why not stay nearby[?]."
Some sided with the Sussexes. One supporter wrote:
"When I travel to different cities, I am perfectly capable of staying in nice hotels but actually prefer to stay with friends as I rarely see them. It's called having friends who are hospitable. I offer it back when they visit my city. Jeez."
Another responded to the rumors that they were already broke:
"[Prince Harry's] book ['Spare'] is at number one again. He has more money than you will ever see.”
Do you agree that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are cheap? What can you say about the Sussexes' decision to stay in a friend's residence over a nearby hotel?
Stay tuned for more news and updates about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
Explore new topics and discover content that's right for you!
Pop Culture