Prince Harry's Security Quagmire: Rebel Duke Facing 'Long-Term' Challenges in Quest to Win British Taxpayer-Funded Protection

Although Prince Harry appealed the London High Court's decision to block his request for taxpayer-funded security while in Britain, his and Meghan Markle's new tour has reignited the debate.

"Another highlight was probably the fact they were given full security," former royal butler Grant Harrold said on behalf of Slingo when discussing the trip. "When I worked for the family, Harry didn’t have a massive entourage, but I’m sure they’ll be over the moon to have had that protection in Colombia."

"They have to be strict in the U.K., as it’s paid for by taxpayer's money, and one of the main arguments is that they can afford to pay for it themselves," he added. "But when royals go to other countries, the nation’s police will arrange security themselves to make sure they’re protected."

Recent reports suggest, and despite her reported "disappointment" in the pair, that the late Queen Elizabeth II directed her chief advisor to ensure the Duke and Duchess had effective security. The revelation comes via a newly unsealed letter Her late Majesty wrote to her private secretary, Sir Edward Young, in early 2020.

You will understand well that ensuring that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex remain safe is of paramount importance to Her Majesty and her family," Young's letter read on behalf of the Queen. "Given the Duke's public profile by virtue of being born into the royal family, his military service, the Duchess's own independent profile, and the well-documented history of targeting of the Sussex family by extremists, it is imperative that the family continues to be provided with effective security."

The memo was sent to then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his entire Cabinet, and although the head of government could technically have denied her wish, a royal command is seldom ever disobeyed.

Not all analysts of the situation believe that such an arrangement could ever be met again.

"The argument from the Met and royals will be that Harry has never had a big entourage, unlike his father or grandmother did," Harrold continued. "I think this security issue is going to be a long-term thing, and the longer it goes off, the less we’ll see of them in the U.K. I think it will be a long-term issue, and this will bring up a lot of questions."

Meanwhile, Young's letter pointed out that although the Queen stressed the importance of ensuring Harry and Meghan's continued security, she acknowledged that the final decision would rest with RAVEC (Royal and VIP Executive Committee).

Later, bits of this letter were presented in a judgment by Mr. Justice Nicklin during a libel case Prince Harry filed against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of Daily Mail. The case was related to a 2022 article in that paper about the Duke's legal battle with the Home Office over his security provisions.