Prince Harry and Meghan have reportedly been informed that they will not receive taxpayer-funded police protection during their time in the UK. Upon their arrival at Birmingham Airport with children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the family was not provided with a public police convoy for their journey to their new residence, believed to be in the Cotswolds.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have instead been given the contact number of a police liaison officer, with assurances that their security measures will not extend beyond this point, according to ITV News. Prince Harry is reportedly dissatisfied with this arrangement and has instructed his legal team to approach Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood to seek her intervention. He hopes for a change in security provision, particularly as the Home Office is said to be re-evaluating his case following the couple's return to England after six years in the United States.
David Langdown, Prince Harry's security advisor and a personal friend, is currently overseeing the family's safety. He is understood to have assembled a team of trusted British security personnel. This situation has drawn criticism from former royal protection officer Scott Hamer, who stated that the current security arrangements put the Sussexes "in danger." Hamer questioned the decision to provide only an officer's phone number, noting that former prime ministers, regardless of their tenure or perceived threat level, often receive publicly funded protection. He argued that the threats faced by Prince Harry are significantly greater.
Prince Harry's legal battle with the Home Office over security in the UK has been ongoing since he and Meghan stepped down as working royals in 2020, which altered the level of protection they received. In late June, Harry awaited a review by the Risk Management Board, a body involved in determining security requirements. While preparing for a July visit to Britain, his security detail worked to ensure his safety. He eventually visited alone, later joined by Meghan, Archie, and Lilibet.
The risk assessment is believed to have been completed at the end of the previous month, and Prince Harry subsequently provided the Home Office with 28 days' notice of his intention to return to the UK. It is understood that Harry had not been formally informed of the Risk Management and Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) conclusions at that stage but was hopeful for an adjustment in his security arrangements. He now hopes the situation may change now that the family is residing in the UK rather than merely visiting.
An unnamed government insider told the Daily Mirror that officials have been asked to conduct a new assessment now that the family has chosen to live in the UK, with recommendations to be made in due course. Decisions regarding protective security for prominent public figures, including members of the Royal Family, are made by Ravec, which comprises representatives from the Home Office, Metropolitan Police, and the Royal Household, advising an independent chairman.
The Sussexes arrived at Birmingham Airport on Wednesday via a Bombardier Global Express XRS luxury business jet chartered from Los Angeles. They departed approximately 20 minutes later in a Mercedes-Benz V220d, without any police escort. The couple is reportedly establishing a home in the UK while maintaining their properties in California and Portugal, planning to live as an "international" family. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, have been enrolled in UK schools and are expected to begin next week. This return marks the first time in four years that the children have visited their grandfather, the King, in person.
Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan, 45, will reside in a non-royal property outside London. This move comes after they purchased a home in Montecito, California, following their decision to leave the working monarchy in 2020. Sources close to Prince Harry have indicated that he has missed home since leaving Britain six years ago and wishes for his children to understand the environment in which he grew up. Meghan, originally from Los Angeles, is also reportedly pleased to offer their children exposure to both cultures.