Meghan Markle's kidnap fears ahead of her wedding to Prince Harry

Meghan Markle kidnap fears
(Image credit: Getty Images / Samir Hussein/Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Meghan Markle took part in a ‘staged kidnap’ ahead of her marriage to Prince Harry after receiving an 'unusually high' amount of threats, according to a royal expert. 

Prince Harry and Meghan got married in a fairytale service at St George’s Chapel but it seems the build-up to the big day was not quite as magical.

In fact, royal authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand claim in their joint book ‘Finding Freedom’ that Meghan was trained in a ‘staged kidnapping scenario’ by the British Army's SAS unit.

They wrote, “Meghan took part in a staged kidnapping, where she was bundled up in a car by a 'terrorist,' taken to a different location, and then 'saved' by officers firing fake guns (the kind used in Hollywood films) for realism.”

Meghan Markle kidnap fears - Britain's Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex leave from the West Door of St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, in Windsor on May 19, 2018 in Windsor, England.

Credit: Getty Images

The authors explained that “During the mock kidnapping, Meghan was taught to develop a relationship with the enemy. She was also instructed on how to drive a car while in pursuit.”

The Star has also reported that several other leading members of the royal family, including Meghan's sister-in-law Kate Middleton, have taken part in the two-day training.

Security was also a big factor in the speed of Harry and Meghan's relationship, with Harry reportedly wanting to marry her 'as soon as possible' in a bid to protect her.

Meghan Markle kidnap fears - Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex attend the athletics event during the Invictus Games at Zuiderpark on April 17, 2022 in The Hague, Netherlands.

Credit: Getty Images

This issue still seems to be a pressing one for the royal couple, especially since stepping down as senior royals. Harry even cited security fears as the reason he could not attend his grandfather, Prince Philip's memorial and likely why the couple chose to meet with the Queen secretly ahead of the Invictus Games.

There were even fears that the Queen would never meet Harry and Meghan's daughter, Lilibet because it was ‘too dangerous.’ Thankfully, the family is set to return to the UK for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Naomi Jamieson
Lifestyle News Writer

Naomi is a Lifestyle News Writer with the Lifestyle team and has recently earned her Gold Standard Diploma in Journalism from the NCTJ. She has a background in design, having studied Illustration at Plymouth University but has taken a leap into the world of journalism after always having a passion for writing. She currently writes pieces on beauty, fashion, and entertainment for Goodto.com and My Imperfect Life.