The British government has been described as “uncooperative” by a senior executive from the firm overseeing Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s security in the United States. This comment comes amid the prince’s ongoing legal battle to reinstate his full-time state-funded police protection in the UK, highlighting the challenges he faces over security concerns for himself and his family.
In an exclusive statement to People magazine, Joe Funk, Senior Vice President of TorchStone Global, emphasized the level of threats Prince Harry and Meghan Markle face and the hurdles they encounter due to the British government’s reluctance to share detailed threat information. “The U.K. government acknowledges numerous threats against them, but we are not privy to specific details due to lack of cooperation,” Funk told the outlet.
Government Response
When approached by Newsweek, a spokesperson for the UK government defended its security protocols without delving into specifics. “The U.K. Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security,” the spokesperson stated. “It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.”
Prince Harry’s Concerns
Funk’s comments coincide with recent revelations by Prince Harry in a British documentary titled Tabloids on Trial. In the one-off special aired in July, the prince voiced his deep-seated fears over potential threats to Meghan Markle should they return to the UK, expressing concerns over acid and knife attacks. “All it takes is one lone actor, one lone person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read, and whether it’s a knife or acid or whatever it is, these are things that are a genuine concern for me,” Prince Harry told journalist Rebecca Barry. “It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country,” he added.
The documentary shed light on Harry’s persistent anxiety over media intrusion and public safety, referencing the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997, who was being pursued by paparazzi in Paris when she died in a car crash. Harry’s determination to safeguard his family echoes this harrowing personal history, reinforcing his legal efforts to secure appropriate protection.
Legal Battle with the Home Office
Prince Harry’s ongoing litigation against the UK government stems from a 2020 decision by the Home Office to withdraw his dedicated police protection team following his and Meghan’s decision to step back from their roles as senior royals and relocate to North America. This decision, taken by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), replaced Harry’s longstanding security detail with a more limited, case-by-case arrangement for his visits to Britain.
Under the new protocol, Prince Harry receives police protection based on the purpose of his visit, the events he attends, and intelligence regarding potential threats. However, after a security scare at a London charity event in 2021, Harry deemed this arrangement insufficient, filing lawsuits to challenge RAVEC’s decision and seeking judicial review.
In his legal pursuit, Prince Harry also proposed funding additional police protection out of his own pocket. However, this request was denied by the courts, with a judge ruling against creating a “two-tier system” where private individuals could pay for police services, which are meant to remain impartial and not for sale. Additionally, the court found that RAVEC had acted legally and appropriately in adjusting Harry’s protection plan.
Despite the court rulings, Prince Harry has taken his appeal to Britain’s Court of Appeal, where the case is currently ongoing. His legal battle underscores the prince’s unwavering commitment to his family’s safety, a priority he reiterates often in public discussions about his security needs.
Impact on Harry’s Visits to the UK
The unresolved security issue remains a significant barrier to Prince Harry spending more time in Britain. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020, his visits have been limited to specific events, such as the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and the coronation of King Charles III. However, these visits have been brief and heavily managed.
Meghan Markle, who has not accompanied Harry on his UK trips since 2022, remains primarily in the United States with their children, Archie and Lilibet. The couple’s absence from the UK raises questions about the ongoing impact of security concerns on their relationship with the royal family and their ability to maintain personal connections with their British roots.
As the legal proceedings unfold, the debate over Prince Harry’s security arrangements continues to capture public interest. While the prince’s battle with the UK government highlights complex issues of privacy, public duty, and familial responsibility, it also underscores a broader discourse on the evolving role of modern royalty in addressing personal and institutional challenges.
The outcome of Harry’s legal appeals will likely have lasting implications not only for the Sussexes but also for the ongoing discourse about the protection and rights of public figures in the face of evolving security threats.
