Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been accused of "blackmailing the nation" with their demands for taxpayer-funded security, according to a former royal protection chief.
Dai Davies, who served as head of royal protection under Queen Elizabeth II, said the Duke and Duchess of Sussex must realise they cannot "pick and choose" whether they receive taxpayer-funded protection.
Former royal protection chief criticises Sussexes
Mr Davies told the Kinsey Schofield Unfiltered podcast: "[Harry] is the worst advocate for security, in my 55 years of being involved in policing security at home and abroad, I've ever met. If you want security, then surely you keep a low profile. On the contrary, they don't stop ... My view is, we're being played, the nation is being played, almost blackmailed."
He added: "If he just kept quiet, if he just kept the collective mouths shut and stopped the unofficial briefings that go on day after day to favoured individuals, he would be a lot safer."
Return to Britain and security status
Harry and Meghan returned to Britain with their two children in late August after six years living in the US, and have so far not been granted publicly-funded police protection.
The duke previously insisted it was too dangerous to bring his wife and children to the UK 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.
He previously lost a legal battle against the Home Office over the UK security arrangements for him and his family after his level of protection changed when he stopped being a working royal.
Private visit and strained family relations
The Sussexes have returned to Britain in a private capacity, and are not expected to take on any Palace duties, but the details of their security arrangements as full-time citizens remain to be confirmed.
The duke and duchess quit the monarchy six years ago and relocated to the US, from where they levelled a number of criticisms at members of the Royal Family and the institution.
Harry has argued that his family faces a significant security risk, with "additional layers of racism and extremism".
His return to Britain has also reignited attention on his strained relationships with family members including brother William, from whom he is thought to remain estranged following the public attacks.
