The Duke of Sussex remains awaiting a decision on his security arrangements in the United Kingdom as officials contend with the challenge of providing protection to an unprecedented number of nine former prime ministers simultaneously.

Prince Harry had expected a reassessment of his eligibility for automatic police protection by the end of last year, with the review scheduled to take place in March. This evaluation was to be conducted by the royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec), an independent body responsible for determining the level of armed protection assigned to public figures. However, as of the end of June, the review had yet to be carried out.

The delay is reportedly linked to the increased demands on the security services, particularly due to the number of former prime ministers who are entitled to lifelong, round-the-clock protection after leaving office. Officials have implemented a temporary pause on risk management board reviews to manage the workload and the limited availability of armed officers.

A source familiar with the process explained that the situation extends beyond the Duke of Sussex’s case, highlighting the broader strain on police resources. The source noted, “Harry’s case is not all about Harry. It’s about a much wider situation within the police about the number of former premiers they are now protecting and fewer armed officers available.”

Historically, there have never been more than five living former prime ministers at the same time during the 20th century. In contrast, five years ago, there were 6,621 deployable firearms officers in England and Wales; that number has since decreased to 5,917 in 2026, intensifying the challenge of providing high-level security.

Prince Harry lost his entitlement to automatic police protection upon stepping back from his role as a working royal. Since then, each visit to the UK requires a separate security assessment. He also lost a legal battle last year contesting the removal of his automatic protection.

A spokesperson for the Home Office stated that the United Kingdom’s protective security system remains “rigorous and proportionate.” The Duke of Sussex was contacted for comment on the matter.