Prince Harry is set to visit the UK without his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, after the government confirmed the family would not receive taxpayer-funded police security for the trip. The decision has thrown plans for a reunion between King Charles and his grandchildren—who he has not seen in person for four years—into doubt.
The Duke of Sussex, who stepped down as a working royal in 2020, has been locked in a long-running dispute with the Home Office over his security arrangements. He originally planned to bring his family to London for a five-day visit marking the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham. But sources close to Harry say his personal security team reviewed the plans and concluded that without an up-to-date assessment from the Royal and VIP Executive Committee's (Ravec) Risk Management Board, the family could not travel safely. The Home Office declined to provide detailed information on security, citing its long-standing policy not to compromise protective arrangements.
“Why Prince Harry can't bring his family to the UK without police protection”
Harry lost a legal battle last year over the downgrade of his security after he left royal duties and moved to the US. The courts ruled that state protection would be assessed on a case-by-case basis for “infrequent” visitors. For this trip, Harry had asked for police protection beyond royal residences—including while travelling to public engagements and his mother's grave at Althorp—but the government rejected the request. His private security firm had commissioned a report detailing threats facing the Sussexes in the UK. A source said there was “no way” a meeting with the King could happen if the family were “chased by paparazzi wherever they go”.
For UK readers, the saga raises questions about public spending on royal security and the limits of taxpayer-funded protection for non-working royals. It also highlights the personal cost of the rift within the royal family: King Charles is said to have been kept “in the dark” about Harry's last-minute change of plans, despite offering a royal residence to facilitate the visit. The dispute has drawn criticism from royal experts, with one describing Harry as “behaving like a spoilt celebrity”, while the Duke's friends say he is “not in a good place”.
Q: Why can't Prince Harry get police protection when he visits the UK? Harry no longer qualifies for automatic taxpayer-funded security because he is not a working royal. After his legal challenge failed, his protection is decided on a case-by-case basis by Ravec, a Home Office body that includes the Met Police. For this trip, the government rejected his request, saying the existing arrangements are “rigorous and proportionate”.
Q: What is Ravec and how does the security process work? Ravec stands for the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures. It assesses security needs for senior royals and other high-profile individuals. Harry’s case goes through its Risk Management Board, which had not conducted an up-to-date assessment for this visit, according to sources close to the Duke.
Q: Will Prince Harry ever bring his family to the UK? It remains possible. Meghan and the children may still join him later in the trip for events in Birmingham, where security arrangements are still being finalised. But the government has not guaranteed police protection beyond royal residences, making any future visit dependent on the outcome of ongoing Ravec reviews.
Harry will travel to London alone for engagements including a visit to the Royal Hospital Chelsea and a trip to Birmingham later in the week. It is unclear whether King Charles will meet his grandchildren under the revised schedule. Buckingham Palace has not commented on private family matters. The Home Office says it does not comment on specific security details.