Former home secretary David Blunkett stated that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should be granted a limited, temporary level of royal security as their potential relocation to the United Kingdom takes shape. Blunkett suggested that the security detail could be adjusted over time based on the perceived threat level.
This proposed arrangement, described as a "middle-ground" approach, would involve one or two protection officers accompanying the couple. Blunkett deemed this a "perfectly reasonable" offer on a temporary basis, with the possibility of reassessment in a couple of years.
Blunkett's comments come amid a deepening public discussion regarding whether British taxpayers should fund the couple's security, an expense that could amount to approximately £5 million annually. Fellow Labour peer Lord Foulkes argued that security is a "private matter" and that the wealthy couple should bear the costs themselves, noting that other non-working royals do not receive police protection.
Conversely, Labour's Dame Emily Thornberry, chair of the Commons foreign affairs committee, expressed that the family "deserved to be safe" due to Harry's position as the son of the King and his past public service contributions, which she believes place them at risk. Mike Tapp, a former Home Office minister and Labour MP, emphasized the need for a "clear-eyed assessment of the threat" to inform security decisions.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch noted Prince Harry's high public profile as the son of the sovereign, suggesting it places him in a similar security consideration category to many politicians.
There has been additional uncertainty surrounding the duration of the couple's potential stay in the UK, with a source close to them indicating the move could be as short as six months. A review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which manages security for prominent figures in Britain, is reportedly concluded, and Prince Harry has allegedly appealed privately to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for a favorable outcome.
A Home Office spokesperson stated that the department does not discuss private security arrangements.