When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step back as full-time working royals, they had to say goodbye to many aspects of their previous life, including the automatic police security they once enjoyed. Now, Harry only receives taxpayer-funded security on a “case by case” basis, meaning there are times when he may not have it when returning to his home country if the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) don’t see the need for it.
Despite his frustrations with the removal of his automatic security, Prince Harry has taken legal action against the Home Office to try and reinstate it. While the High Court ruled in February that the decision to provide “bespoke” security arrangements was legally sound, Harry has since won the right to appeal the decision. In a separate legal case, a letter written on behalf of Queen Elizabeth revealed her concerns about the security of the Sussex family.
Following the Sandringham Summit in 2020, where the future of Harry and Meghan’s royal roles was discussed, the Queen’s private secretary wrote to the Cabinet expressing Her Majesty’s belief that the safety of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex is of utmost importance. The letter emphasized the need for effective security given their public profiles and history of being targeted by extremists.
While the Queen acknowledged that RAVEC would make the final decision on Harry and Meghan’s security independently, she made it clear how vital it was for them to receive adequate protection. The contents of the letter were revealed in a judgment from a libel case brought by Harry against Associated Newspapers Limited.