Prince Harry is barely a week into his homecoming, and a dark cloud is already surrounding him.
A senior palace insider has revealed the Duke of Sussex and his family are the targets of “very real” threats, reigniting calls for them to receive publicly funded security.
Prince Harry has “very real” threats against him, royal editor Chris Shiphas warned. Getty
Prince Harry has reportedly hit out at a British security chief for failing to inform him of a recent threat, after it was first flagged by the FBI.
ITV News royal editor said security was the prince’s biggest concern just days after his bombshell homecoming with Meghan Markle and their two children Archie and Lilibet.
“The only thing he’s got in order to combat any sort of attack is the phone number of a police liaison officer that he can call if he’s in trouble,” Ship told Today.
Ship added that the duke “isn’t very happy” about this level of protection.
“And the reason Prince Harry isn’t very happy about it is because we know he does have very real threats against him,” he said.
“One of those threats was passed to him by the FBI, and Harry’s saying, ‘Well, hold on a minute. Why is it the FBI that passed this threat to me, which came from the Taliban on a closed telegram channel? Why didn’t the British authorities tell me about it?’”
This is one of the concerns Harry has reportedly raised with the committee that decides on what level of security he has in Britain.
Ship speculated that the family’s return meant authorities in the UK would give his security situation more consideration.
Harry has renewed his security fight now he is back in the UK for an extended stay. AP
“It’s a committee that decides what MPs get, what politicians get, what members of the royal family get, and also other high-profile individuals who aren’t part of the royal family,” Ship said.
“He’s now saying to them, ‘I’m living here with my family. They’re going to school here, we’re doing the school run. Surely you must look at this again, and look at my security once again now that there’s all these threats are out there.’”
Compounding the issue is that the Sussexes had armed security in the US, whereas bodyguards in the UK are not allowed to carry weapons unless they are licensed and given permission.
“Yes, he does have his own security people. He pays for them … but they can’t carry arms,” Ship said.
Ship referenced a security report prepared by Harry’s team, which outlined specific threats – not just from the Taliban but from “other terrorist plots, most of which emanate in the UK”.
Specific threats have been cited in a report prepared by Prince Harry’s team. Getty Images
Harry famously lost a prolonged battle for the privilege fought from his home in the US, arguing that due to the ongoing risk to his personal safety and that of his family, government security services should continue for him when he is on British soil.
The Sussexes have returned after a six-year stint in the US after the couple resigned as senior working members of the British royal family.
The family arrived in Britain on Wednesday and are expected to settle in the Coltwolds. Instagram/@meghan
The pair has visited the UK during that time, most recently in June for events in preparation for the Invictus Games in Birmingham in 2027.
Plans for the Duchess of Sussex to appear publicly during the trip were reportedly cancelled due to security concerns.