Prince Harry Faces Fresh Security Delay After Latest UK Court Defeat
Prince Harry has reportedly suffered another setback in his long-running campaign for police protection in the United Kingdom, with a fresh delay adding to the challenges he faces following his recent legal defeat.
The Duke of Sussex, who recently visited Britain with Meghan Markle and their children, is now said to be waiting even longer for a new review of his security arrangements. The latest development comes after he lost his legal battle over automatic police protection during UK visits.
According to reports, Prince Harry had been expecting a fresh risk assessment after officials indicated last year that his security situation would be reviewed. However, that process has reportedly been delayed because of growing pressure on the system.
The Times reported that an unprecedented number of former British prime ministers currently requiring security protection has created a backlog. As a result, Prince Harry’s review is understood to have been pushed back once again.
Reports claim that all nine living former prime ministers receive lifelong, round-the-clock security after leaving office. The list reportedly includes Liz Truss, who served for just 49 days, as well as outgoing Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The increasing demand on security resources has reportedly affected the scheduling of Risk Management Board reviews. Officials are said to be struggling to manage the workload, leading to a temporary pause in some assessments.
Prince Harry’s supporters argue that his circumstances are different because of his royal status and military service. Reports have continued to highlight that the Duke faces potential security threats both as a member of the Royal Family and as a former soldier who served in Afghanistan.
A separate source questioned the Home Office’s reported handling of the situation. The source suggested that pausing reviews was not the most effective way to deal with a growing backlog.
“It is a rather incoherent argument from the Home Office to respond to a reported ‘backlog’ by temporarily pausing Risk Management Boards (RMBs),” the source told HELLO!.
“If there is a backlog because demand is high, the obvious response would be to allocate more resources to clear it – not to stop conducting them altogether,” the source added.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lost their automatic taxpayer-funded, 24-hour police protection after stepping back as working members of the Royal Family in 2020. Since then, the Duke has continued seeking changes to the current arrangements.
Reports suggest Prince Harry intends to continue pursuing the matter until RAVEC agrees to implement the terms of reference discussed during the judicial review. The Duke is said to remain committed to securing what he believes are appropriate security arrangements for himself and his family.
Prince Harry is next expected to return to Britain for the WellChild Awards in September, an event he has supported for many years. He is also expected to visit the UK for the 2027 Invictus Games, although it remains unclear whether Meghan Markle, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet will accompany him.
Under the current arrangements, Prince Harry is required to give approximately one month’s notice before travelling to the United Kingdom so that officials can carry out an individual risk assessment for each visit. Despite his continued efforts, reports indicate that he has so far been unsuccessful in regaining automatic full police protection, leaving the security dispute unresolved.
