A close friend of Prince Harry has criticized the UK’s decision to not provide him with automatic police protection, calling it ‘spiteful’. Alex Rayner, who attended a charity expedition to the North Pole with the Duke of Sussex and remains in contact with him, argued that other royals receive security despite doing less.
Harry lost his automatic police protection in the UK when he and Meghan left the country after stepping back from their royal duties. Following a legal battle, he requested a risk assessment from the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec).
Rayner expressed concern about Harry’s vulnerability, especially considering his service in Afghanistan. He questioned the fairness of making Harry pay for private security when other royal family members with lesser duties receive protection.
Recent reports initially indicated that Harry might regain armed police protection for his visits to the UK, but there is now a division within Ravec. Some senior officials are cautious about granting protection due to potential public backlash over taxpayer funding.
Despite ongoing discussions, no final decision has been reached. Harry previously highlighted security concerns that prevent him from bringing his family back to the UK safely. He mentioned feeling disappointed about not being able to show his children their homeland.
Currently, Harry must inform the Metropolitan Police ahead of his UK trips for security assessments. However, his legal team argues that this process endangers his life. The UK government has maintained that its security measures are comprehensive and confidential to protect individuals’ safety.
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