Prince Harry is preparing for a trip to the UK for an Invictus Games event, but his request for taxpayer-funded police protection has reportedly been denied, casting doubt on whether his wife Meghan Markle and their children, Archie and Lilibet, will join him. The Duke of Sussex has long argued that it is not safe to bring his family to his home country without adequate security.
Background of the Security Dispute
Harry was stripped of his police protection after he and Meghan quit royal duties in 2020 and moved to the US. One month later, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) ruled that Harry should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection. Since then, he has fought to have it reinstated, claiming his family is at risk.
In May last year, Harry lost an appeal against a High Court ruling that upheld the security reduction. He later told the BBC that he felt "let down" and described the decision as a "good old fashioned establishment stitch up," blaming the Royal Household for influencing it. He also said, "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point."
Upcoming Trip and Security Denial
Harry is expected to attend a major event marking the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games in Birmingham. Initial reports suggested Meghan and the children would join him for their first family visit to the UK since 2022. However, Harry's official request for police protection for the trip has been denied. He was also waiting for a review by the Risk Management Board (RMB), part of the Ravec process, but learned on Friday that it has yet to take place.
A spokesperson for Harry said the family is "exploring every option available to enable the visit to proceed safely." A source close to the Sussexes added: "Harry is devastated and in absolute turmoil over this decision. He is incredibly frustrated at the lack of action from the Home Office and its delay in making a decision. He has blamed dark forces for stopping his family coming to the UK and arranging to see the King. Everything is very much up in the air."
Public Opinion and Expert Views
Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond has defended Harry's request, saying, "Security is offered to a former prime minister who served barely any longer than a lettuce takes to wilt, then surely the son of the King deserves the same? Prince Harry is asking for the Metropolitan Police to protect him and his family on occasional visits to the UK. It does not seem an unreasonable request. He cannot change the fact that he is the King's son."
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