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Friend Criticizes Security Measures for Prince Harry's UK Visits
A friend of Prince Harry called it "spiteful" that the Duke of Sussex is not entitled to automatic police protection in the United Kingdom. Since Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties in 2020, they are no longer entitled to taxpayer-funded security in Britain.
A friend of Prince Harry has criticized the decision to deny him automatic police protection in the United Kingdom, calling the move "spiteful." Prince Harry lost his right to automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in Britain when he and Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020. The Duke of Sussex has challenged this decision in court, but he must now wait for the government to complete a full risk assessment before each visit. Harry has argued that he does not feel safe in the UK without police protection for himself and his family. Alex Rayner, a friend who accompanied Harry on a charity trek to the North Pole in 2012, echoed this sentiment. Rayner told The Daily Mail that it feels "a tiny bit spiteful" to ask Harry to pay privately for security, considering his military service and that other royals receive protection for doing "far less."
Key Facts
- A friend of Prince Harry called the decision to deny him automatic police protection in the UK "spiteful.".
- Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States.
- The Duke of Sussex no longer has automatic taxpayer-funded police protection in Britain.
- Harry has argued in court that he does not feel safe in the UK without police protection for his family.
- Alex Rayner noted Harry's military service and that other royals receive protection for doing "far less.".
- Rayner said that asking Harry to pay for security privately feels "a tiny bit spiteful.".
- Harry must now wait for the government to complete a full risk assessment before each visit to the UK.