Prince Harry.....latest

Maddy are you sure that Anne and Edward don't have security? They both live in very large houses with grounds - there must be some sort of paid-for 24/7 security.

Neither appear to have any significant income to afford this.

The statement from Harry's legal team clearly says: He remains willing to cover the cost of security. Not the Queen, not the taxpayer.

Even on a low key "private" visit, excellent chance to take a few photos of the children meeting there GGM.

What would they be worth if sold to OK magazine.

Riverwalk as I understand it, Edward, Sophie and Anne only have protection when they are on official Royal duties.

Well, they should have thought of all this before they flounced off to live abroad and abandon their royal duties.

As has been said before on other threads, they could have chosen to live a quieter life in England, at Frogmore Cottage, still undertaking certain royal engagements, but not so high profile.

The best of both worlds. The family could have seen as much of the children as necessary.

I am pretty certain that life in California has not turned out the dream life they envisaged.

Cold

I'm sure that there are any number of private bodyguarding firms in London that would be able to provide former military/ and probably former royal bodyguards. He chose to leave royal life and presumably has been sourcing his own security staff in LA for several years

This just sounds like a PR stunt

I am mystified why this is front page news and featured on television news. Football clubs pay the police for their services so why should they refuse to accept payment from Prince Harry? I believe Harry wants UK police because they have access to the intelligence that the security staff he uses don’t have but I think he is over-inflating the Sussexes’ importance on the world stage. The sooner the newspapers stop reporting on every trivial thing about these two the better, then their photos won’t be worth much and they won’t be subjected to the high speed chases Harry claims they get and which killed his mother. If he would just do what the other members of the royal family do and pause for a moment for a photo and be courteous these ‘chases’ just wouldn’t happen.

Josieann

The statement from Harry's legal team clearly says: He remains willing to cover the cost of security. Not the Queen, not the taxpayer.

Saw this later on - BBC’s first report gave the impression that it would be at the taxpayers expense.

As I understand it, we do not have enough police to cover normal police work in the UK. If there are "surplus to requirements" in the Royal Protection Division, they should be moved back to normal duties, not hired out on demand. If there is no surplus, protection should not be compromised for those who deserve it because of service to THIS country. H&M cannot have their cake and eat it, even if they are prepared to pay the baker.

25Avalon

Perhaps it’s an excuse not to come. Then we can be blamed.

Precisely.
They don't want to come and are looking to blame someone else.

That's what I said further back.

Anniebach

One reason Harry left this country was because he thought his family would be in danger , why ask for the same protection now when he had no trust in it then.

He had full protection but felt it wasn’t enough for goodness sake!
As for his calling the UK home , he was quick enough to slag off the country and his family before he trotted off to California. Perhaps he’s having second thoughts now?

Who does he think he is? Private citizens can’t just hire our police force. If his US security detail don’t have the authority or know how to protect him over here he can hire private British security. There’s plenty of ex special forces working in a private capacity here. Talk about entitlement!

Chestnut

I'm going to stick my head above the parapet and say I think he should be able to pay for Police protection whilst here in the UK.

Whatever we think of him, he and his children are direct blood line to the Queen and if they had stayed here would have had Police protection round the clock. They are only going to be here for a few days, would it really be too much to provide that protection for such a short time? They won't be here for weeks or months. And it won't come free.

A very fair comment IMO

He is the tail being wagged by the dog!

Slightly off-piste; a headline to-day suggested the P.M. leave Office and take her husband with him.

Back-seat drivers in charge?

I’m just posting here so that I don’t lose the thread.
Excuse me, I’ll be off now to read the thread

When I first read the story, many hours ago, I wasn't properly awake, that's my excuse, I was pleased that he was wanting to pay for the security and not just demanding it.
Then it sank in, and the concept of rich people being able to pay the police for work which would, presumably, take them away from the duties to the general public they're already paid to do. Blimey. Talk about a slippery slope.

Riverwalk

If a forthcoming trip is Royal Family related e.g. Jubilee celebrations it would be easier for the Met to provide security for them - it would compromise the security of an event if they had to coordinate with a private team for Harry.

If the trip is private then he can pay for private security, just as a lot of high-profile people do. There are many firms that provide ex-Met and forces to high profile rich families of oligarchs, celebrities, business people, etc.

The Met shouldn't be for hire, because that's what it would be, even for a prince.

A very sensible post Riverwalk.

Germanshepherdsmum

If one person is allowed to hire the police for their own protection it sets a precedent for others rich enough to do so. He’s made his choice. Now he must live with the consequences.

That too.

Our police are not for hire - where would that lead to?

It seems there are quite a few people willing to risk H&M's lives and those of their children just because of their behaviour. No matter what I think of their behaviour I don't want them murdered while they are here.

Riverwalk
And I quote from (in this case) Tatler, but is easily found in other publications;

In 2011 the majority of the Royal Family not in the direct line of succession were stripped of their police protection officers, in a move to save the Home Office the £50 million security bill……..Anne only receives it when undertaking royal duties.

So yes, I am sure.

As Harry doesn’t live in the UK anymore providing a private service even though he is paying could possibly set a precedent for any celebrity visiting the UK who thinks they need security. After all he is no longer a working member of the Royal Family so should not be accorded any special treatment. His choice.

I don’t believe anyone on here wants them murdered. Our police aren’t for hire, many private, highly experienced private security firms are.

Germanshepherdsmum

If one person is allowed to hire the police for their own protection it sets a precedent for others rich enough to do so. He’s made his choice. Now he must live with the consequences.

Absolutely! Well said.

Let's face facts if HM and Charles want them to come over security will be provided. If they don't, it won't. Of course William might be lobbying against them!

maddyone

Princess Anne and her family and Prince Edward and his family only receive protection when they are actually engaged in royal duties. All other times, no security. Security is being withdrawn from Prince Andrew (not sure why he got it as his brother and sister don’t) and Andrew’s daughters don’t receive security. Harry and Meghan don’t engage in royal duties any longer. It’s a bit like Djokovic, rules are rules. Harry can’t expect special treatment. Anne and Edward are children of the monarch, Harry is not.
Sorry, but I have no sympathy for Harry with this.

Another sensible answer maddyone