Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should not receive automatic police protection because they "abandoned their public life", according to a royal expert. Richard Eden, royal editor of the Daily Mail, said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex should not be granted the taxpayer-funded security because it is only available to senior royals Princess Anne and Prince Edward "when they are undertaking official duties".
MP's call for protection
He made the comments in response to calls from Labour MP Mike Tapp for the family to be given protection after their move back to the UK. Harry previously insisted it was too dangerous to bring his wife and children back to Britain with the reduced security he was entitled to post-Megxit.
A long-awaited risk assessment carried out on the orders of the royal and VIP executive committee (RAVEC) is said to have taken place at the end of July, but Harry reportedly does not know the result.
Security arrangements under scrutiny
Mr Tapp wrote on X: "Prince Harry has landed in the UK, apparently with no police protection. Has a decision been made not to provide security? And does that decision stand up to scrutiny? Because if something happens to him or his family, it will need to. Sort it out!"
Mr Eden replied: "Is this Labour MP aware that the King's sister and brother receive automatic police protection only when they are undertaking official duties? Harry and Meghan abandoned their public life."
Reports suggest the Sussexes were not granted a publicly-funded police convoy for the journey to their new home on Wednesday and that they are being supported by their own private protection team. The duke is said to have pleaded with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for answers over the security arrangements.
Extended stay in the UK
Harry and Meghan are expected to settle in the UK for an "extended period" of time, despite news of the move breaking just last week. Conflicting accounts suggest the family could only remain for the autumn or put down roots for the next 12 to 15 years to give Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, a British education.
The return comes six years after Harry and Meghan, who will remain as non-working royals, quit the monarchy and relocated to the US, from where they levelled a number of criticisms at members of the Royal Family and the institution as a whole.
