Prince Harry’s U.K. return renews debate over taxpayer-funded security

The Duke of Sussex arrived in Britain with his wife Meghan and two young children last week. Photo by Pool /Getty Images

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Prince Harry’s return to Britain has reignited debate about whether taxpayers should foot the bill to protect him and his family, with experts warning genuine threats likely exist.

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The Duke of Sussex, who arrived in Britain last week with his wife Meghan and their two young children, had previously ruled out returning to his home country, citing security concerns.

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The couple left Britain and quit royal duties in 2020 amid a royal family feud and Harry subsequently waged a years-long, ultimately unsuccessful, legal battle to retain U.K. taxpayer-funded security while living in California.

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Now back with their seven-year-old son, Prince Archie, and five-year-old daughter, Princess Lilibet, he has reportedly been pushing for reinstated police protection.

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However, when the family landed August 26 at Birmingham Airport, they had private security in place rather than police officers, according to British media.

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“It’s very surprising,” Scott Hamer, an ex-protection officer for Harry’s father King Charles III when he was Prince of Wales, told AFP.

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“There’s probably people who are being protected now who are at less threat and risk than he is. So the question would be, why does he not receive that protection as well?”

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‘Vulnerability’

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Harry and Meghan, who are reportedly living in central England’s Cotswolds region, are said to have enrolled their children at private schools there for the coming academic year.

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They are thought to have heightened concerns about security around the kids’ daily drop-off and collection, given that these follow predictable patterns.

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“The vulnerability aspect needs to be assessed,” said Hamer.

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“The fact that he’ll have to take his kids to school at the same time each day, and pick them up at the same time each day, now makes him quite vulnerable.”

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Harry battled the ministry in the courts after Ravec downgraded his security. (HENRY NICHOLLS/AFP/File) Photo by HENRY NICHOLLS /AFP/File

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Britain’s Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) — an independent body overseen by the interior ministry — decides which politicians, royals and others get police protection.

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Harry battled the ministry in the courts after Ravec downgraded his security following his 2020 North America move.

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The prince lost his bid to reverse the decision, branding the 2025 dismissal of his appeal a “good old-fashioned Establishment stitch-up”.

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With his return, Ravec’s risk management board will likely be re-evaluating the threat level he faces.

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“It’s very real,” explained Hamer, noting it could range from international terrorism to extreme right-wing actors opposed to his marriage to mixed-race Meghan.

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‘Threat’

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The Sunday Times reported last week that Harry’s lawyers wrote to interior minister Shabana Mahmood in August requesting she intervene.

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The paper said he had lost faith in Ravec’s ability to rule fairly on his security needs, citing sources close to him.