The inadvertent publication of the date and time of Prince Harry’s appearance at the Invictus Games 10th Anniversary Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8 has raised security concerns, potentially jeopardizing his attendance.
Sources tell the Daily Express that Prince Harry’s team emphasized the need to keep the exact date of his appearance confidential due to fears over his security in the United Kingdom.
The revelation of the service details on the St. Paul’s Cathedral official website has heightened fears, particularly in light of disclosures made in the Duke of Sussex’s memoir Spare, where he discussed his military service, including that he had killed 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan.
“Harry recognizes the potential risks to his security, especially considering the sensitive information he shared in his memoir,” the source said. “That’s why his team were so adamant about keeping his whereabouts on a need-to-know basis. Whenever he’s appeared at events in the UK in the last few years, there have been last-minute announcements due to this very reason.
“The fact that St. Paul’s has published the exact time and date of an event he is due to attend on their official website weeks in advance is seen as a serious security risk.”
Prince Harry recently lost a High Court challenge against the government over his security when in England. Harry contested a decision to downgrade his security status when he stopped being a working royal. However, he argued that he had been treated unfairly in the changes to his police protection when he still faced significant security threats. The duke is appealing the court’s ruling that there was nothing unlawful in these security decisions.
“Harry is very adamant about appealing the court’s decision,” the source said. “He wants to spend more time in the UK with his family and doesn’t feel comfortable doing that until his security has been secured.”
“Let’s just say the leak of the date of the Invictus Games Anniversary Service has gone down like a lead balloon,” the source said. “Harry is already very concerned over his security in the United Kingdom, so this has just added extra anxiety to his fears.”
Express.co.uk exclusively revealed last week that Harry was due to attend the service at St. Paul’s Cathedral on May 8, and although the ticket-only event is hidden on the official St. Paul’s website, and no public announcements have yet been made, the 10th anniversary service is listed on the website’s “Our Service Schedule” page in the “14th April to 11th May” document.
“The schedules are always published about six weeks in advance,” the source said. “But the events are usually announced in a different section on the website that is more visible, and that hasn’t been done yet.”
Prince Harry’s spokesperson has been approached for comment.
