A recent poll indicates that a majority of the British public opposes taxpayer-funded security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex following their return to the United Kingdom. The survey, conducted by BMG and commissioned by The i Paper, found that 63 percent of respondents believe Prince Harry and Meghan Markle should cover the costs of their own protection. Another 18 percent support a partial state contribution, while only 6 percent favor full funding by public money. Thirteen percent of those surveyed were undecided.
The couple arrived in the UK last Wednesday with their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, after spending six years in California. Their plans include remaining in Britain for an “extended period” as their children begin a new school term in September, although their specific residence has not been disclosed. This development has reignited discussions about the security arrangements appropriate for the family.
Currently, the Sussexes do not receive police protection in the UK, though the Home Office has initiated a review of their security needs. The review aims to assess the risks faced by the family, which is complicated by Prince Harry’s complex security history. The former soldier, who served in Afghanistan, stepped back as a working royal in 2020 and relocated to the US, citing concerns over the safety of his family under the level of protection then provided.
Recent revelations involving Prince Harry allege that the chair of the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), responsible for decisions on royal security, failed to share intelligence on a 2023 al-Qaeda threat targeting the Duke. Harry reportedly raised these concerns in a letter to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood this month, urging her to take direct responsibility for determining his family’s security arrangements. According to his legal team, the committee chair did not inform either Harry’s security personnel or US authorities about the intelligence.
Security sources note that Prince Harry has been the subject of multiple terrorist threats over the past two decades. At least six threats or plots involving the Taliban, al-Qaeda, or their supporters have targeted the Duke since 2007. These include a 2012 Taliban statement announcing plans to kill or kidnap him, as well as threats against his military helicopter in 2010. In late 2023, intelligence shared through the Five Eyes alliance—which includes the UK, US, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand—alerted the FBI to an al-Qaeda document mentioning plans to assassinate Harry.
A long-awaited risk assessment ordered by Ravec reportedly took place in July, though the results have not been disclosed to Prince Harry. This assessment will contribute to the ongoing Home Office review regarding the security provisions for the Sussex family. Meanwhile, public debate continues over the extent to which the couple should receive official protection funded by taxpayers.