Prince Harry’s security arrangements during visits to the UK are reportedly set to be reviewed following a direct request from him to the Home Secretary.
After losing a high-profile legal case against the government over the removal of his automatic right to taxpayer-funded police protection, Prince Harry wrote privately to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, asking for a full security risk assessment.
It is understood that Harry has been informed the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which decides on protection measures, will ask its Risk Management Board (RMB) to reassess his threat level for the first time since 2020.
Harry has previously said he does not believe it is safe for his wife Meghan and their two children, six-year-old Prince Archie and four-year-old Princess Lilibet, to come to the UK. King Charles last saw his grandchildren in June 2022 during the late Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
Harry launched a legal challenge after losing his automatic police protection upon stepping down as a working royal and moving to the US. He objected to the decision to provide “bespoke” protection on a case-by-case basis while in the UK, arguing it was made without a proper risk assessment.
In May, he lost his appeal. In an emotional interview afterwards, he blamed a “good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up.” His legal team had argued the Home Office singled him out for “inferior treatment,” but three appeal judges rejected this. Judge Geoffrey Vos stated in his ruling, “I could not say that the duke’s sense of grievance translated into a legal argument.”
According to The Sun, following Harry’s request to Mahmood, the RMB will gather evidence from police, government, and the prince’s team, with findings expected to be presented to Ravec next month.
The prince has long argued a new risk analysis is essential to ensure Ravec’s security decisions are based on current threats. Since stepping back from royal duties and moving abroad, he has been required to give 30 days’ notice of any UK visit so each trip can be individually assessed.
The Telegraph reports that several people have been jailed for encouraging attacks on him, threatening him, or plotting to kill him. It is understood there are three Britons at large who were jailed and released after plotting to harm him.
A spokesperson for Harry declined to comment on security matters.
A government spokesperson said: “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our longstanding policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Of course Here is a list of FAQs about Prince Harrys UK security arrangements being reviewed following reports of his correspondence with a journalist
BeginnerLevel Questions
1 Whats the basic story here
Prince Harrys security protection in the UK is being reexamined after news reports revealed he privately wrote to a journalist Mazher Mahmood years ago The review is to see if this contact created any security risks
2 Who is Mazher Mahmood
Mazher Mahmood is a former investigative journalist often called the Fake Sheikh known for undercover sting operations He was convicted of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in 2016
3 Why does Prince Harry need security in the UK
As a senior royal until 2020 he received automatic statefunded police protection due to threats from extremists terrorists and obsessive individuals After stepping back from royal duties the level of this publiclyfunded protection was changed
4 What is RAVEC
RAVEC stands for the Royal and VIP Executive Committee Its a secretive government body that decides who gets statefunded security at what level and based on what threat assessment
Intermediate Advanced Questions
5 Why would writing to a journalist trigger a security review
Security services view contact with a convicted criminal as a potential vulnerability They need to assess if Harry could have been manipulated if sensitive information was discussed or if it indicates a pattern of judgment that could be exploited by hostile parties
6 What was in the letter Harry wrote
The exact contents havent been fully disclosed but reports suggest Harry wrote to Mahmood in 2007 to complain about press intrusion and harassment of his thengirlfriend Chelsy Davy
7 Hasnt Harrys security already been a major issue
Yes This is separate from his longrunning legal battle over his current security level He lost a bid to have his police protection reinstated in February 2024 This new review is about a past action potentially affecting his future risk assessment
8 What could be the practical outcome of this review
It could lead to no change or it could be used to justify the existing reduced level of protection In a worstcase scenario for Harry it could theoretically be cited as
