Prince Harry’s security situation in the UK is being looked at again after his latest legal challenge pushed officials to reconsider how he is protected when he returns to Britain.
The move marks the first major reassessment of his security since he and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal roles and relocated abroad.
A source close to the Duke of Sussex said in October that Harry had written to the new Home Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, shortly after her appointment, asking for a formal review by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
The committee, which oversees royal security and the protection of high-profile public figures, has not carried out a review for him since 2020.
According to the Home Office has now ordered an updated threat assessment, the first in four years.
This follows Harry’s failed appeal in May, when he challenged the decision to scale back his taxpayer-funded security while in the UK.
The dispute dates back to the period after Harry and Meghan moved first to Canada and later to California, where they now live with their children.
After the ruling, Harry said the situation had made it “impossible” for him to bring Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet back to Britain safely.
Ravec to Reassess Threat Level Facing the Duke of Sussex
Ravec has reportedly instructed its Risk Management Board to take a fresh look at the risks facing the Duke, and the review is already underway.
A final decision is expected next month, and any changes could affect how often Harry is able, or willing, to return to the UK for personal or family matters.
A Government spokesperson said: “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.
It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”
This ongoing debate around royal protection has sparked wider interest, particularly among those who follow the relationship between Harry and the Royal Family, as well as the ongoing discussions about who qualifies for state-supported security.
Growing Concerns Over Royal Security After Recent Incidents
Concerns about Harry’s safety have only added to the pressure. During his most recent trip to the UK in September, he reported that a “known stalker” had come within a few feet of him on two separate occasions.
Incidents like these have boosted the discussion around royal safety, a part of the Home Office, and how security opinions are made for members of the Royal Family who no longer work as elderly royals.
The outgrowth of the new assessment will probably shape unborn visits from the Sussex family and could determine how doable, or safe, it is for them to spend time in the UK going forward.
For now, the focus remains on whether Harry’s position of protection should be adjusted to reflect the pitfalls he continues to face as a high-profile royal figure living outside the UK.
