Prince Harry accused of wanting 'free police protection' with UK move

Prince Harry accused of wanting 'free police protection' with UK move

Prince Harry accused of attempting to get 'free police protection' with UK move

Dorothy Reddin

By Dorothy Reddin


Published: 23/10/2023

- 12:09

Updated: 23/10/2023

- 12:52

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex no longer have a permanent home in the UK

Prince Harry has been accused of attempting to get "free police protection" with a potential move to the UK.

Although not confirmed, reports have circulated suggesting the Duke of Sussex is looking for a home to stay in when visiting the UK.


Harry and his American wife Meghan Markle previously had access to Frogmore Cottage, but they were ordered to vacate the property in March this year, just two months after the publication of Spare.

At the beginning of March, a spokesperson for the Sussexes confirmed they had been "requested to vacate their residence at Frogmore Cottage".

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle no longer have police protection

PA

Royal commentator Angela Levin spoke to GB News to offer her opinion about reports that Harry could be looking for a new home in the UK.

She claimed: "Meghan doesn't want to come back to the UK ever because it's too small and not interesting. She thinks globally.

"Harry, I think, wants to come back because he can do it without asking his father."

Princess Kate, Prince William, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle

Taxpayer-funded security is only afforded to working royals

PA

Levin opined: "He can buy a house and he can actually then try and get protection 24/7 because he'll be around, even though he's not actually working [as a royal], at the expense of the taxpayer."

After stepping down as working royals in 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex lost their taxpayer-funded police protection - which is only afforded to full-time working royals.

The High Court in London allowed the duke to challenge the decision to end his police protection in 2022.

But in May this year, the High Court rejected Harry's bid to pay privately for the highly-trained officers.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are no longer working royals

PA

The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) decided to remove Harry's publicly-funded security.

Lawyers for the police and the government said it would be wrong to allow the fifth-in-line to the throne to pay for police protection.

They claimed it would set a precedent that wealthy individuals could "buy" specially trained officers as private bodyguards.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle live in California

PA

Levin further claimed: "People are saying [Prince Harry] now wants to be friendly with the family and think about where the children are going.

"I think it's a nonsense. I think in a way they wanted to move to another part of Los Angeles last month because they could be with trendy singers and all that.

"And that didn't come off. And now we've got this thing."

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