Former Head of Royal Protection Dai Davies has criticised Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their requests for taxpayer-funded protection, describing the demands as "absolute nonsense."
Appearing on TalkTV, the security specialist told Kevin O'Sullivan: "The truth is, they have a perfectly adequate team which they pay for, and I'm all for them having it if that's what they want."
Davies questions the need for taxpayer funding
"Let them have a team of ex-police officers, ex-SAS, whoever they want," he declared, adding that the Sussexes had given in to "paranoia."
"Unless there is an absolute case that there is such a risk in this country for them coming back, that someone can demonstrably show that risk, then I don't think you and I should be paying for it," he continued.
Quipping that the UK shouldn't pay for a "multi-millionaire and indulge his fantasies," Davies said: "I think it's absolute nonsense."
Sussexes set to relocate to the UK
Last week, it was announced that Harry and Meghan would be moving back to the UK at the end of August with Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The couple are expected to relocate to a non-royal residence outside London, with their children enrolled in British schools.
Ahead of their return, a debate has emerged over whether the Sussexes should receive taxpayer-funded protection. While the Home Office has remained tight-lipped about the level of security required, it is thought a review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) has been completed.
MPs weigh in on the security debate
Some Labour MPs have contributed to the discussion. Former Home Secretary Lord Blunkett suggested a "happy medium" for the Sussexes.
"If I were looking back on my time, there's a happy medium here. There are three areas of security. There's the fully blown, blacked-out back-up car with two or three close protection — one in the passenger car and the others in the back-up on a 24-hour basis," he told The Times.
"There's then the middle ground, which is security where you have one or two officers who travel with the principal, as they call it. And the third is that they get a driver with security training. I think the middle of that is a perfectly reasonable thing to offer for the time being, and then it could be reassessed in a couple of years."
MP Dawn Butler also shared her thoughts, saying: "Where someone has served their country, faces specific and identifiable security threats, is a member of the Royal Family, and is connected to additional risk factors such as sustained racial abuse directed at them or their family, those circumstances should be carefully considered as part of that assessment."
