Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are planning to relocate their family to the United Kingdom, a move that has reignited a long-standing dispute with the UK government over security arrangements and the associated costs.
The Home Office has reiterated its stance that security for the Sussexes will not be taxpayer-funded, maintaining that their protective security system is 'rigorous and proportionate.' The department stated it is its policy not to comment on specific arrangements to avoid compromising their integrity or the individuals' safety.
The Duke and Duchess, along with their children Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, will be living in an undisclosed location in the UK, outside of London. This decision marks a departure from their life in California and raises questions about whether Prince Harry's concerns about his family's safety have changed, or if he has arranged private security.
Prince Harry previously expressed that he did not believe it was safe for his wife and children to travel to the UK. Following a lost Court of Appeal challenge in 2025 against the Home Office regarding his security, he told the BBC that he 'can't see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK.'
Former press secretary to Queen Elizabeth II, Ailsa Anderson, suggested that the British public would expect answers regarding the funding of any security measures. Speaking to BBC Radio 4, Anderson questioned whether the taxpayer should be responsible for the security of non-working members of the Royal family, particularly given current economic challenges faced by the public.
The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which includes representatives from the Home Office, Metropolitan Police, and the Royal Household, is responsible for security decisions. These decisions are informed by expert risk assessments and align with government policy.
The Sussexes stepped back as senior royals in 2020, subsequently moving to Canada before settling in California. Prince Harry has made intermittent visits to the UK since their departure. In July, the couple brought Archie and Lilibet to visit King Charles in Gloucestershire for the first time in four years.