The 'Real Reason' Behind Prince Harry’s Legal Battles over Security Revealed
EXCLUSIVE: Sources say that Prince Harry always wanted to return to the UK, which is why he fought so hard for close protection.
The reason behind Prince Harry’s continued fight for royal security status in the UK has seemingly been revealed.
Six years ago, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex chose to step away as working members of the Royal Family and move across the pond to the US. His taxpayer-funded security was replaced by a “bespoke” arrangement where RAVEC (Royal and VIP Executive Committee) would decide the level of security on a ‘case by case’ basis every time he chose to visit.
Harry previously tried to appeal the decision when he was not granted specialist Metropolitan Police officers who have access to classified intelligence and the sovereign security infrastructure, as his team cited a number of threats against his life. Now sources have said the reason why he has fought so ferociously in the courts to gain security, was because he was so keen to return to the UK.
Speaking exclusively to The Royal Observer, News.au.com reporter Bronte Coy explained that Harry’s battle for security was because he always wanted to come back to the UK. The esteemed journalist stated: “He has wanted to be in the UK more. We've seen this ongoing security battle [and] the fact he wouldn't let that go. Now that is not the behaviour of someone who's not planning to spend a lot of time in Britain."
She added: Why would that be such an enormous issue and one that he has doggedly pursued for so many years? So, in a number of ways, it's been clear, just from his own words and his behaviour, that this was something he was looking to do. But also, what I'm hearing from their side is that this is the plan. I know that Harry has been missing the UK. I've been told that a number of times.”
The Duke of Sussex lost his appeal, a decision he blasted in June 2025 in an explosive interview with the BBC, in which he described the judgement as an “establishment stitch-up.” Despite returning on his own on a number of occasions, he cited the lack of security as one of the main barriers to him bringing his wife and two children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, to the UK. He has previously offered to fund the costs of police security himself – as not not impose on the taxpayer - but the Home Office turned down his proposals.
The department stated at the time that it was against policy to allow wealthy individuals to hire members of the police force as personal bodyguards. Meanwhile, fellow journalist and broadcaster Afua Hagan agreed with Bronte's assessment, as she told me: “If we look at the moves Harry has been making this summer, particularly spending you know a good period of time here trying to get the security sorted."
She added: “I think it's clear that actually maybe this had been on the cards for a while. I think what's surprising to everyone is the speed of which this is happening.”
