Britain is once again gripped by Harry and Meghan mania. News that the royal couple are moving back – along with their two children – will delight fans, infuriate critics and create another headache for the Home Office.
Security questions intensify
Less than 24 hours after news broke of the Sussexes’ imminent return, questions about who will pay for their security intensified. It’s something Prince Harry has been incredibly vocal and vociferous about.
The King’s youngest son fought to overturn changes to his security that were introduced in 2020 as he stepped down as a working royal and moved to the US. He claimed the decision to remove his automatic security entitlement impacts him "every single day", and has left him in a position where he can only safely return to the UK if invited by the Royal Family – as he would get sufficient security in those circumstances.
Ongoing security review and pressure
Prince Harry even claimed the King "won't speak to me because of this security stuff". While the pair are back on talking terms, a review into the family’s security arrangements is yet to take place.
Officials are grappling with mounting demand for protection services, partly as the UK now has an unprecedented nine living former prime ministers. Intelligence-based considerations could be made on a case-by-case basis. But it is heaping more pressure on a Home Office that – any other week – would be facing scrutiny.
Distraction from asylum crisis
On the same day as Harry and Meghan’s return emerged, the Daily Express revealed that the Home Office had produced literature telling asylum seekers that sex with children is illegal. It also warned them not to rape or beat women – and declared that women are equal to men in this country.
This should be dominating the questions being asked of the Home Office. Why was it necessary to do so? Is this a reflection that dangerous people are being allowed to stay? Is Britain’s ability to deport people too weak? What protections are being put in place? Is security, frankly, robust enough? Currently, it’d be impossible to argue that it is.
But, instead, officials are having to answer questions about the security arrangements of Prince Harry and Meghan. Important though that is, it’s detracting from the crisis engulfing the asylum system. And that’s where Britain’s attention firmly needs to be.
