Prince Harry is still waiting for the Home Office to decide what security he and his family will receive during their time in the UK. He and Meghan Markle are returning to the UK this autumn, with the couple living in a non-royal residence outside London, reportedly close to King Charles' Highgrove residence in Gloucestershire. Their children, Archie and Lilibet, are enrolled in a school near their new home.
Contact with Home Secretary
Prince Harry is said to have contacted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for answers over his security ahead of their travels. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), an independent body overseen by the Home Office, will have to make a new decision as previous arrangements were based on the Sussexes not living in the UK permanently.
Meghan and Harry's UK security was downgraded after they announced in 2020 that they were stepping back as working royals and moving to the US.
Review reportedly completed
Speaking on GB News, royal commentator Jennie Bond said: "He thought it was happening months and months ago. And then he discovered it had been stalled. It was paused largely, it seems, because there are so many demands on the protection forces with so many living prime ministers that they hadn't really got time or inclination to review Harry's. But we understand that actually that review has taken place."
"But Harry hasn't been told the results. Now, I'd be very frustrated if I was him. I would want to know, OK, you've carried it out. So what is the answer?"
"Because when they reviewed his security last time in 2019, he had the highest level of security, along with the late Queen and the prime minister. And he doesn't think there's any reason that should have changed."
Official responses
The Home Office has said the UK's protective security system was rigorous and proportionate, but "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".
Prime Minister Andy Burnham has said about the decision: "It's a matter for Harry and for Meghan, and we wish them well in the move that they are making."
