Prince Harry is reconsidering bringing his wife Meghan and their two young children to the UK next month after the government rejected his request for police protection, leaving the duke “distraught” and the family’s first joint visit in four years in doubt. The decision, made just days before they were due to arrive, has reopened a long-running row over whether the non-working royal should receive taxpayer-funded security when he returns to Britain.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, were planning to fly from California in early July for a five-day trip centred on the Invictus Games. Harry founded the Games for injured military personnel, and the visit was timed to mark the one-year countdown to the next event, to be held in Birmingham in July 2027. The family had also hoped to see King Charles – the children’s grandfather, whom they last saw in person during the Platinum Jubilee in 2022 – and to visit the grave of Princess Diana at the Althorp Estate for the first time. But those plans now hang in the balance because of a security stalemate.
“Why Prince Harry's request for police protection threatens his family's UK visit”
The dispute stems from Harry’s change in status after he stepped down as a senior working royal in 2020. When he and Meghan moved to California, he lost the automatic right to police protection funded by the Home Office. Since then, his security in the UK has been decided on a case-by-case basis by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), a Home Office committee that includes the royal household, the Cabinet Office and the Metropolitan Police. Last year, Harry lost a legal challenge against the government’s decision to downgrade his security, arguing it was not safe to bring his family without police protection.
For this trip, Harry’s team submitted a formal request to Ravec for police protection. On Friday, they were told that no taxpayer-funded security would be provided. The couple had already accepted an offer to stay on a royal estate as a guest of the King, but Buckingham Palace sources said they had not received confirmation that the offer was accepted. Police protection would be available while on a royal estate, but outside those times Harry would have to rely on his private security team from California.
For UK readers, this is more than a royal family drama. It raises practical questions about how the country protects former senior royals who are not working members of the family but still have close ties to the throne. It also affects the public engagements that Harry and Meghan could carry out – the visit was to include events in London and the Midlands, including a hospital visit for Meghan, her first UK engagement in six years. And it touches on the wider issue of security costs for non-working royals, which are ultimately borne by the taxpayer.
Q: Why does Prince Harry need police protection in the UK? Harry argues that his family faces risks from paparazzi and potential security threats, especially given his high-profile status. He has said he will not subject his children to being “chased by paparazzi wherever they go”. The government’s protective security system is described as “rigorous and proportionate”, but it does not automatically cover non-working royals.
Q: What is Ravec and how does it decide on security? Ravec stands for the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, a Home Office body that decides on security provision for senior royals and VIPs. It has an independent chair and includes representatives from the royal household, the Home Office, the Cabinet Office and the Metropolitan Police. Its decisions are based on risk assessments and are not made public to avoid compromising security.
Q: Has this happened before? Yes. In 2024, Harry lost a legal battle against the Home Office over the decision to remove his automatic police protection. He had previously said he could not see a world in which he would bring his wife and children back to the UK without proper security. He has also turned down offers to stay at Buckingham Palace on previous visits because of security concerns over using such a high-profile building.
What happens next is unclear. Harry is said to be exploring every option to make the trip work, but sources say he will not put his family at risk. A final decision is expected in the coming days. If the visit does not go ahead, it will be another missed opportunity for the King to see his youngest grandchildren, and for Harry to reconnect with the charities and causes he continues to support in Britain.