Prince Harry's Security Battle Sparks Questions About King Charles' Royal Double Standards
The more we learn about Charles' support for Andrew, the harder it is to ignore Harry's side of the story.
It has become increasingly hard to ignore the stark difference in treatment Prince Harry has received compared to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. Even though King Charles stripped his disgraced brother of his royal titles and public duties, he still appears to have his support, as seen with the installation of many security provisions at Marsh Farm ahead of his relocation earlier this year. Meanwhile, Harry, who has spent years fighting for the reinstatement of security, has been seemingly left to fend for himself.
Mountbatten-Windsor's exit from royal life did not happen overnight. It followed years of scandal. The former Duke lost his taxpayer-funded police protection, annual allowance, and funding for his private security. He was also made to leave Royal Lodge and move to the much smaller Marsh Farm on Charles' Sandringham estate. While reports have since suggested that Charles has kept his brother at a distance, never meeting him, despite regularly staying at Wood Farm (which is less than a mile from Marsh Farm), Mountbatten-Windsor still appears to have the King's backing in ways.
Last month, as Charles became the first British monarch to publicly release details of his tax payments, it confirmed that the King is personally funding Mountbatten-Windsor's lifestyle. The Palace was quick to point out that the payments are not tax-deductible, meaning Charles is covering the costs from his private income.
But while Mountbatten-Windsor continues to receive the King's private support, the story has been very different for Harry. Just days before Harry was due to return to the UK, there seemed to be a small glimmer of hope. Charles reportedly offered his younger son a place to stay at the Palace, and with Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet initially expected to join the visit, there was even speculation that the King might finally get to spend time with his grandchildren.
However, hopes quickly fell apart. After the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) informed Harry that he would not receive full-time taxpayer-funded police protection, Markle and the children decided not to travel to the UK. Harry has long maintained that the private security he can afford cannot match the protection provided by specialist police officers.
His concerns were backed by a 40-page risk assessment submitted to RAVEC, which detailed six terror plots and dozens of other threats against him, including an alleged al-Qaeda document calling for his assassination over his service days in Afghanistan. Yet the committee stood by its decision not to restore his automatic police protection.
Whether Charles could have done more is, of course, open to debate. The Palace has consistently maintained that the King cannot get involved in Harry's security dispute. As one Palace source previously put it, "The King has made it clear that while he wants to see his estranged son and grandchildren, he will not intervene in security matters."
To make matters worse, Charles also rescinded his offer for Harry to stay at the Palace after he reportedly failed to respond in time. This has understandably left many questioning why Buckingham Palace, with its hundreds of rooms, a full household staff, and resources, could not accommodate last-minute changes for the King's son, when Mountbatten-Windsor was afforded his soft spot.
The opinions expressed in this article belong to the author alone and are not attributable to The Royal Observer or its editorial team.
