Queen Elizabeth II Concedes Harry and Meghan's Requirement for "Efficient Security," Vanity Fair Reports

By Erin Vanderhoof

Over the past four years, since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles, their security arrangements have sparked intense public debate and legal conflict. As they no longer fulfill their royal roles, they do not qualify for Metropolitan Police protection, which Harry had earlier enjoyed. Developments in two different court cases concerning their security measures saw updates this week. There was a court hearing regarding Harry's security status when visiting the UK. Additionally, on Friday, Harry faced a legal blow in a defamation suit against Associated Newspapers, the parent company of the Mail on Sunday, regarding an article published in February 2022 about his fight for security.

Although High Court Justice Matthew Nicklin denied the prince's lawyers the summary judgment in the case against Associated Newspapers, new information about the struggle over security costs post-Harry's step-down from royal duties was highlighted in the 37-page verdict. The verdict cited a January 2020 letter by Queen Elizabeth II’s private secretary Sir Edward Young to the then Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill, where the late queen had shown particular interest in ensuring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's security after their royal exit. The trial is slated for next year.

The letter outlined the queen's concern for the safety of Harry and Meghan. Because of Harry's public profile from being born into the royal family, his military service, Meghan's personal profile, and the history of the Sussex family being targeted by extremists, the letter stressed the importance of providing adequate security to the family.

The message also mentioned that discussions with the former head of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) had taken place. This body determines who is eligible for UK's publicly-funded advanced security. Even though the couple's security was a significant issue once they announced their departure from their working royal roles in January 2020, they lost their publicly-funded protection officers after their provision stirred controversy in Canada and the US.

Since their move to the United States in March 2020, Harry and Meghan have paid for their own security. Nevertheless, the security arrangements for their UK visits have been a contentious issue, leading to continued legal disputes. Private security guards are not allowed to carry weapons in the UK, and earlier this year, the High Court did not permit Harry to cover the additional costs of armed Metropolitan Police officers.

When this denial happened, Harry got a chance to challenge RAVEC’s initial decision to remove the couple's security in the UK. This issue was highlighted during the London hearing that commenced on December 5. Harry's attorney, Shaheed Fatima, deemed the security decisions unfair and disagreed with the depiction of Harry's royal exit as a “choice” by the Home Office.

In a statement that was read as evidence on Thursday, Harry emphasized the crucial role of security in the context of him and his family which includes his son Archie and daughter Lilibet. Harry underlined that the inability to ensure their safety on UK soil prevented them from considering the UK as a home. He highlighted that he could not put his family at risk.