Lord David Blunkett, a former Labour home secretary, has said Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should be offered 'middle ground' security that is 'reassessed' later. His comments come after the Sussexes announced they would relocate from California back to the UK, six years after leaving Britain to raise their children, Archie and Lilibet, in the US. They are expected to arrive within the next few weeks.
Security row over taxpayer-funded protection
The return has sparked a row over how much publicly funded security the pair should receive. The Home Office has stayed tight-lipped on the level of protection for the King's son and his family, though a review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) is thought to have been completed.
Keeping the family safe could cost the taxpayer up to £5 million per year, according to reports.
Blunkett outlines three security options
Lord Blunkett, who led the Home Office from 2001 to 2004, told The Times on Sunday: "There are three areas of security... the fully blown, blacked-out back-up car with two or three close protection – one in the passenger car and the others in the back-up – on a 24-hour basis.
"There's then the middle ground... where you have one or two officers who travel with the principal, as they call it. The third is they get a driver with security training.
"The middle of that is a perfectly reasonable thing to offer for the time being, and then it could be reassessed in a couple of years."
Political figures weigh in
Another Labour grandee, Dame Emily Thornberry, said the Sussexes 'deserve to be secure', while Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called for a 'common sense' solution over the funding question. Previously, Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the issue was 'a private matter'.
