Prince Harry could receive protection when visiting members of the Firm, claims a former royal butler who previously worked closely with the Duke.
Grant Harrold spoke on GB News about the Duke of Sussex losing a High Court challenge over his security when in the UK.
The butler gave the example of when Prince Harry made a quick visit to London to Clarence House to visit King Charles shortly after his cancer diagnosis was made public.
He explained: “When he was in the UK recently, you notice there was a lot of security around him. Obviously he was there to see his father. He will get that protection that’s entitled to him when he’s in those kind of environments.”
He added: “I think the problem is, if he’s in the UK doing his own thing, that’s where this comes into question.”
Grant explained a problem arises when the youngest son of King Charles decides to visit the UK of his own accord.
He said: “This is where then his security is not the same as when he’s with other members of the Royal Family.”
This however could be a rare occurrence with Harry not being on the best of terms with the Firm, following his departure as working royal in 2020, and the release of his tell-all memoir, Spare, which showcased fractured relations.
The Duke of Sussex on Wednesday lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK. Speaking after the ruling, his lawyers said: “The Duke is not asking for preferential treatment.”
When Harry and Meghan stepped back from being working royals and moved to the US, they were no longer automatically provided with the same level of police protection as before.
The prince took legal action over the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) after being told he would no longer be given the “same degree” of publicly-funded protection when in the country.
The ruling this week stated his security would be decided on a case-by-case basis, similar to how other high-profile visitors to the UK are treated.
Harry will not take the verdict lying down and has made his intention to appeal against the court’s ruling clear.
A royal expert, Tessa Dunlop, stated this could mean fractions between Harry and his family in the UK widen. She told the Mirror: “With the Sussexes’ security concerns rejected by the court, more frequent reunions with the Prince and his young family now look less likely.”
