Meghan Markle’s huge travel claims are coming under scrutiny after new information about her passport emerged.
Meghan and Prince Harry made a series of startling revelations during their interview with Oprah Winfrey. The couple spoke to the talk show host in March 2021, a year after they stepped down from their senior royal duties and moved to the US from the UK.
One of Meghan’s revelations was that after she became part of the royal family, she didn’t get her passport back until she was in California.
She told Oprah, “I can’t just go. I can’t. I mean, you have to understand that when I joined that family, that was the last time I ever saw my passport, my driver’s license, my keys until I got here. They were all surrendered. I never saw them again.”
Critics were quick to point out that Meghan visited at least 13 countries during that time. Her travels, which began after she and Prince Harry began dating, included New York, Ibiza, Italy and Botswana. They also went on three official royal tours together, visiting Morocco, South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Tonga and Fiji. On each of these occasions, she would have had to show her passport to border officials.
A palace source said Meghan’s passport was being kept safe but was available for use when she went on holiday.
And royal author Margaret Holder reiterated, “Of course the royal family will want to keep Meghan’s passport safe, but it is inconceivable that she would not have taken it with her on personal and private trips, such as her baby shower in New York, a trip with friends in Canada, a party in Amsterdam, and a trip to Lake Como with George Clooney.” All royals, except for the king, need a passport to travel abroad.