Harry Makes Fresh Security Plea with Letter to UK Govt and It Could Derail His Reunion With Charles
Just when it seemed like a reconciliation between the estranged father and son was on the horizon, Prince Harry’s latest move may have complicated things again. His renewed fight with the UK government over security, this time in the form of a formal letter to Home Office minister Shabana Mahmood, has reportedly forced King Charles to hit pause. Experts argue it threatens to undo the progress made during their brief reunion last month at Clarence House. After nearly 19 months of estrangement, father and son had finally sat down for private tea on September 10, which was seen as a hopeful first step towards mending ties.
A royal insider recently told The Sunday Times, “It’s not going to help matters. We’re back to where we were.”
Yet again, at the centre of the dispute is Harry’s ongoing battle to reinstate his state-funded police protection, which was stripped away after he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The Duke of Sussex has long argued that his unique public profile, as “the son of the King, brother of the heir, fifth in line to the throne, and one of the most famous people in the world,” makes him a constant target, as described by Metropolitan Police officer and ex-member of RAVEC, Neil Basu, The Telegraph reported.
The argument gained renewed attention last month when a stalker reportedly came 'within yards' of Harry on two separate occasions during his UK visit. A source told PEOPLE that while such incidents are “not uncommon for members of the royal family,” Harry’s situation was different because there was “no police presence or close protection.” The intervention instead came from two staffers in his private office who reportedly 'bodyblocked' the stalker. “They got lucky,” the source said. “Relying on luck is not a long-term fix.”
Those close to Harry say his letter to the Home Office, sent before the stalking incidents, was meant to push for a formal reassessment of his security risk, something that hasn’t been done since 2019. According to royal aides, the King and his advisers had hoped that the Court of Appeal’s ruling against Harry in May, which upheld the decision to remove his automatic police protection, would finally close the chapter. Instead, his latest move has 'complicated things.'
A senior insider explained, “The King cannot and will not lobby — that’s inappropriate. His representatives cannot advocate for policy outcomes, particularly in relation to his own family.” Harry, however, has suggested otherwise. Speaking to the BBC after losing his appeal, he seemingly implied that his father could assist if he wanted to. “There is a lot of control and ability in my father’s hands,” he said. “Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him — not necessarily by intervening, but by stepping aside, allowing the experts to do what is necessary.”
This understandably did not sit well with courtiers. Aides worry it paints the King as either unwilling or powerless to protect his own son, neither of which helps the monarchy’s image. “If you put yourself in the mind of a father who is repeatedly told he should and could intervene, that is not very helpful,” a source explained. “It complicates matters and shows a lack of understanding about the reality of the situation.”