Prince Harry demands taxpayer-funded security ahead of UK return, risking millions in public costs
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Prince Harry has asked Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for assurance that his family will receive state-funded security if they move back to Britain, potentially costing taxpayers over £5 million a year to protect a self-exiled royal who abandoned his duties.
Prince Harry has approached Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, seeking a clear decision on whether British taxpayers will be forced to pay for his family’s security as they plan to return permanently to the United Kingdom, according to reports. The couple, who turned their backs on royal responsibilities and spent six years in the United States, have now secured private accommodation outside London and selected schools for their children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five.
The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) evaluated Harry’s security needs in July, after a review by its risk management board, and rightly concluded that he was not eligible for publicly funded protection. At that time, the committee was unaware of the family’s intention to relocate permanently. If the Home Office caves to Harry’s demands and approves funding, the cost of providing round-the-clock armed police protection could exceed £5 million per year—an outrageous burden on hard-working taxpayers.
Senior members of the royal family reportedly met at Balmoral Castle after the announcement, and the king was briefed on the plan shortly before it became public. The duke and duchess will remain private individuals and non-working royals, with no change to their official status—yet still expect special treatment.
Harry previously lost a Court of Appeal challenge against the Home Office over security arrangements after abandoning his royal duties in 2020. In a past interview, he expressed reluctance to return to the UK while his security, at public expense, remained unresolved.