When Prince Harry and Meghan Markle decided to step back as full-time working royals, they had to say goodbye to some of the perks they were used to – including automatic police security. Now, Harry only receives taxpayer-funded security on a “case by case” basis, meaning there are times when he won’t have it when he returns to his home country if the security committee doesn’t think it’s necessary.
Despite his frustrations with this change, Prince Harry has taken legal action to try and get his automatic security back. While the High Court ruled in February that the decision to provide “bespoke” security arrangements was legal, Harry has now won the right to appeal this decision. In a separate legal case, a letter written on behalf of his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, revealed her true feelings on the matter.
The Queen’s private secretary explained in the letter that ensuring the safety of Harry and Meghan is a top priority for the royal family, given their public profiles and history of being targeted by extremists. The Queen emphasized the importance of providing them with effective security, even though the final decision lies with the security committee.
This extract from the letter was revealed in a judgment from a libel case brought by Harry against a newspaper publisher. Despite the challenges, it’s clear that the safety and security of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle remain a top priority for the royal family.