Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, have faced criticism over recent adjustments to their children’s schooling arrangements and their ongoing campaign for taxpayer-funded security in the UK. The couple’s children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, were withdrawn from their new school after just two days, reportedly due to concerns raised by their private security detail regarding traffic conditions during the school run.
The Sussexes cited heavy rush hour traffic and a “pinch point” caused by parked cars that led to their security convoy’s journey taking nearly double the expected time—up to an hour instead of the usual 35 minutes. To address these issues, the children will now attend a different school in the area that reportedly does not present the same traffic challenges.
The security concerns come amid renewed attention to the Sussexes’ request for government-funded protection. Harry has been advocating for armed police bodyguards since stepping down as a working royal in 2020, when such security was withdrawn. His attempt to secure taxpayer-funded protection through the courts ended in defeat, a decision he publicly criticized, describing it as an “old-fashioned establishment stitch-up.” The couple will undergo their first government review of security arrangements since 2020 under the Royal and Vice-Regal Establishments Committee (Ravec).
Royal biographer Robert Jobson criticized the couple’s handling of the situation, suggesting they should rely less on official security measures and more on practical solutions, such as adjusting their schedule to avoid traffic. He described their framing of the school run as a security issue as overstated and cautioned against expecting round-the-clock protection funded by the public. Former head of royal protection Dai Davies also expressed skepticism, questioning the necessity of a security convoy for the school run, given the historically low security risks to children of the royal family.
The situation intensified when Meghan unintentionally shared her personal mobile phone number on a school parents’ WhatsApp group chat shortly before their children started at the school. The number was subsequently circulated widely, raising additional security concerns.
Meanwhile, the Sussexes marked Prince Harry’s 42nd birthday with several family photos posted on social media by Meghan. The images depict candid moments including Harry with their children and with Meghan, accompanied by a message calling him “simply the best.”
In a related royal matter, reports have emerged of copies of a new book by Earl Spencer, brother of the late Princess Diana, being stolen from a lorry in the Netherlands. The book contains new insights into Diana’s life and her marriage to Prince Charles.