Prince Harry’s U.K. Security Bid Gets Fresh Hope Following Home Office Review
Harry and Meghan are back in Britain, but questions over how the family will be protected during their stay remain unanswered.
As Prince Harry and Meghan Markle make their return to the U.K., one of the most important issues about their stay in the country still looms. The Duke’s ongoing battle for taxpayer-funded security remains unresolved, but he might finally get some good news this time around.
Harry’s return to Britain could end up giving his long-running security battle a fresh twist. The Duke has personally approached Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood over his protection, and the Home Office is now taking another look at the threat to him and his family. Sources say officials are “actively assessing” the case again after his arrival yesterday.
The latest development follows a risk assessment carried out at the end of July, after being ordered by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC). Harry has since told officials that he plans to spend an “extended” period in the UK, where he has now returned with his family.
For now, there has been no decision from the Home Secretary on whether Harry and Markle’s current security arrangements should be changed. The couple has relied on an ad hoc setup since stepping back from royal duties in 2020.
A source from the government told Mirror, “Officials have been asked to make a new assessment now that the family in question have chosen to reside in the UK. Any recommendations will be made in due course.”
While the review continues, Harry has not been given any state-funded protection despite returning to the U.K. with his wife and their children. Instead, the Sussexes have reportedly only been given the phone number of a police liaison officer. A former Met protection officer who once guarded King Charles told ITV News the decision was “incredible,” warning that it could leave the family “in danger.”
Scott Hamer, a former royal protection officer, was blunt about the arrangement, saying that simply having a phone number is “not protection” and calling it “a fudge.” He said, “I have been involved in protection for 25 years; I find it absolutely incredible. We currently have eight non-working prime ministers who are in receipt of police protection that is paid for by the public. The threats and risks to Prince Harry are far greater.” He also questioned whether the current approach properly reflects the level of risk involved. He argued that based purely on threat and risk, Harry should be receiving protection.
