Prince Harry is due to visit the UK next week for the one-year countdown to the Invictus Games in Birmingham, and he wants to bring his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet. But the trip is in doubt because of a long-running dispute over the level of police protection he and his family will receive while in the country.
The core of the issue is the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), the government body that decides on security provision for senior royals and other public figures. When Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020, his level of taxpayer-funded protection changed. He is no longer automatically entitled to the same round-the-clock police security he had before. Harry argues that the threat to him and his family remains high and that the current arrangements are not proportionate to the risk. His team has pointed to the fact that an independent Risk Management Board (RMB), which Ravec itself decided was necessary last November, has still not taken place, making it difficult to assess whether the security offered is appropriate.
“Prince Harry's security row explained: why he can't bring Meghan and children to the UK.”
Harry has waged a protracted legal battle over this. In May 2025, he lost a legal challenge against the Home Office over his police protection. Since then, he has mainly travelled to the UK alone. His wife and children have not visited the UK or seen King Charles since the Platinum Jubilee in 2022. The prince has previously said he "can't see a world" in which he brings them back without improved security.
For UK readers, this dispute raises questions about how the state balances the security needs of high-profile individuals with the fact that they have chosen to step back from public duties funded by taxpayers. The current system means that Harry can receive protection when on royal estates, but not automatically outside them. The King has offered the Sussexes accommodation on a royal estate, which would come with security, but Harry's team stresses that "risk follows the person, not the place" — safe accommodation alone is not enough.
Q: Why does Prince Harry need taxpayer-funded security when he is wealthy enough to pay for his own? Harry has sufficient private wealth to hire private security, but he argues that private guards do not have the same legal powers as police officers (such as the power to stop and search or carry firearms). He believes that only state-provided police protection can adequately address the threats he and his family face.
Q: What is Ravec and how does it decide who gets police protection? Ravec stands for the Royal and VIP Executive Committee. It assesses the security needs of senior royals and other public figures based on threat level, risk, and the individual's public role. When someone leaves their official royal duties, their security provision is reviewed and often reduced. Harry's team has challenged the way Ravec makes its decisions.
Q: Could the King intervene in this security dispute? No. The King cannot involve himself in government security decisions, as it would go against his constitutional role as head of state. He is understood to be frustrated by the situation but powerless to change it.
What happens next is uncertain. Harry's team is still exploring options to enable the visit. A decision may come at the last minute, depending on whether Ravec can complete its risk assessment and offer satisfactory security. If no agreement is reached, the family trip may be cancelled, and Harry may travel alone again.