The Home Secretary has ordered a new review of the terror threat against Prince Harry's family, giving fresh hope of taxpayer-funded security. The Home Office is "actively assessing" Harry's case again, sources revealed, after the Duke of Sussex wrote personally to Shabana Mahmood asking for a renewed assessment of his security situation, as he arrived back in Britain yesterday.
New assessment ordered
A long-awaited risk assessment, carried out on the orders of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), took place at the end of July. Harry then informed officials of his intention to travel back to the UK, where the family are said to be on an "extended" stay.
The Home Secretary has not made a decision on whether to change the Sussexes' right to security from the ad-hoc arrangement in place since they left their royal roles in 2020. However, now the family have moved permanently to the UK, sources said "the goalposts have moved".
One government insider said: "Officials have been asked to make a new assessment now that the family in question have chosen to reside in the UK. Any recommendations will be made in due course."
Arrival in the UK
Harry, his wife Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet, flew into the country on a private plane from California shortly before midday on Wednesday, landing at Birmingham Airport. The family travelled on a Bombardier Global Express XRS luxury long-range business jet for the overnight flight and were seen being whisked away in two £90,000 black Range Rovers, followed by an £80,000 black Mercedes van transporting their luggage.
They were not met by any taxpayer-funded close police protection or had a police convoy - something they previously were afforded when working royals - and were supported by their own private security team. The Sussexes are not seen in the images but sitting in the front seat is believed to be David Langdown, who previously worked with Harry when he was a working royal. Mr Langdown, known as 'Langers', is now working for a private security firm after retiring from the Met Police and is believed to be helping the family establish a security team in the UK.
Security costs and future plans
Security experts said the private motorcade could run into thousands of pounds every time Harry and Meghan need to use them for public appearances. Former royal protection chief Dai Davies said "the bills are going to run up if this is how Harry insists on travelling around the UK now he is back".
The Sussexes are reportedly setting up home in the Cotswolds, close to where Archie, seven, and five-year-old Lili have been enrolled in British schools, ready to start in September. A spokesman for the duke and duchess declined to comment on their travel movements, citing the importance of privacy and security. "This is not something we would comment on," the spokesman said.
The duke informed the Home Office 28 days before arriving in the UK - in line with the previous requests to give appropriate warning any plans he had to come to the country. Harry had not been told of the Committee's previous conclusions prior to his move back to Britain. However, a source close to the duke said he was "confident of a change in proceedings".
Harry is understood to have been given an indication that the Home Office's stance had "softened" and that there would be more scope for him to be afforded police protection when attending certain public events. Harry has previously pleaded with Ms Mahmood, saying his family are in danger in the UK. His private security team produced a detailed report suggesting he was the target of six terror plots in the UK. It is not known if any are live or viable.
It is also understood that Harry has also suggested he wants to mark Remembrance commemorations in November when in the UK, as he has done every year while living in the United States since leaving his royal role in 2020. Royal sources suggest Harry would not be invited to attend commemorations at the Cenotaph in London, but he could potentially visit other sites such as the National Arboretum in Staffordshire. A spokesman for the Sussexes did not comment.
