Prince Harry's UK Security Review Hits Unexpected Delay ― And Politics May Be to Blame
Prince Harry's latest UK plans have been complicated by fresh developments surrounding his security arrangements.
Prince Harry lost one of his biggest royal privileges after stepping down as a working royal in 2020: taxpayer-funded police protection. Because of this, the Duke has to follow a series of protocols each time he schedules his visit to the UK. Harry is required to give at least a month's notice before visiting, allowing officials to assess the purpose of his trip and any potential security risks. Even then, he is not automatically granted the same level of police protection he once received, something the Duke has repeatedly argued leaves him vulnerable. Moreover, his legal battle with the Home Office concluded in defeat at the Court of Appeal in May 2025. Now, a new report claims, Harry's security assessment has been delayed due to a political backlog.
As per The Times, Harry's security request faces an uncertain future as officials continue to review protection cover for nine ex-Prime Ministers. Reportedly, the Duke had been assured that a risk management board would attend to his needs by the end of 2025 to evaluate his automatic protection during UK visits. However, this review, initially scheduled for March by an independent body, has not yet occurred. The move has come under immense political pressure as the board struggles to accommodate nine ex-Prime Ministers within the security umbrella. The backlog has been so huge that a four-month pause was initiated to cope with the demand. "It is a rather incoherent argument from the Home Office to respond to a reported “backlog” by temporarily pausing Risk Management Boards (RMBs). If there is a backlog because demand is high, the obvious response would be to allocate more resources to clear it - not to stop conducting them altogether," a source with the RMB knowledge highlighted.
The source further emphasized the critical importance of assessments in ensuring safety, noting that individuals with harmful intentions towards public figures may not wait for bureaucratic processes to unfold. The source continued to add that protective security in the country has been 'underfunded' and 'overstretched' for years, with highly trained close protection officers being redeployed to other policing duties to fill gaps. This situation raises serious concerns about the prioritization of protective security. The source then questioned the reasons behind the backlog that led to delays in RMBs. Also highlighted concerns about the precarious state of protective security and criticized the lack of investment in safeguarding public figures who are potential targets. However, the political scene has put the Duke's request in the loop.
King Charles III (R) welcomes Andy Burnham during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Labour Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government on July 20, 2026, in London, England. Image Source: Getty Images | Aaron Chown - PoolThe King recently welcomed Andy Burnham to form a new government after the former Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer resigned. Hence, as per the rule, a record number of living former prime ministers are receiving lifelong, round-the-clock protection cover even after leaving office, including Liz Truss, who served for only 49 days. Hence, only time will tell whether the Duke's request will be taken up on a priority basis in the near future.
