Prince Harry blindsided King Charles by informing Government security services about his family's return for an extended period to the UK weeks before telling his own father, it has been revealed.
The Duke of Sussex alerted officials earlier this month to give them time to prepare security measures for his family's return later this month. However, King Charles was reportedly left completely in the dark until Sunday (August 16).
Pressure on Government for taxpayer-funded protection
The shock move has placed the Government under immense pressure to grant taxpayer-funded protection to Harry, Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, as they prepare to settle into a new British home and enrol their children in local schools.
Harry has spent nine months waiting for the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) to decide on his family's safety protocols following ongoing legal battles over his downgraded protection status.
It is understood that the delay has been caused by a lack of resources, with nine former Prime Ministers and key working royals already receiving round-the-clock protection.
Risk assessment changes with relocation
Details reported by The Mirror reveal that former Head of Royal Protection, Dai Davies, believes the Sussexes' decision to relocate completely changes the risk assessment.
"He's going to stay in a settled address that will be known, and his children will be attending school. The whole scenario is changing," Mr Davies noted, warning that taxpayer-funded protection could run into millions.
"It's not just securing the windows and doors - it's the technical things, the safe room that has to go in and so on, and then you've got vehicles. An armoured car comes in at about half a million pounds for the top end," he added. "If they spread each other four ways, with two different schools, and Meghan and him getting it, it's going to cost you and I a huge amount of money."
Tensions remain high behind palace doors
While Prime Minister Andy Burnham dismissed the matter on Thursday (August 20) as a "private issue", security experts have insisted local police and RAVEC will be forced to intervene due to elevated threat levels stemming from Harry's military service, past terror plots and fixated individuals.
The move follows a secret, emotional reunion on July 11 at Highgrove, where King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the Sussexes for afternoon tea. It marked the first time the King had seen his youngest grandchildren in person since 2022.
Despite the temporary thaw in relations during Harry's recent UK trip for the Invictus Games, tension remains high behind palace doors, after the King reportedly pulled Harry's planned stay at Buckingham Palace after claiming the Duke had given insufficient notice to arrange staffing.
Government insiders were also left furious when Harry previously released his UK travel itinerary publicly, a move perceived as an attempt to force the Home Office into granting round-the-clock armed police protection.
Harry continues to lobby RAVEC using a private 40-page threat assessment detailing "elevated risks" from lone-actor terrorists.
