Prince Harry’s latest attempt to secure taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK may jeopardize his fragile reconciliation with King Charles, according to royal sources.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, formally requested enhanced security from Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Friday, but insiders warn the move “complicates things for the King” and threatens to undo recent progress in their relationship.
“It’s not going to help matters,” a royal source told The Times. “We’re back to where we were.”
A Brief Reunion Now Under Threat
The security appeal comes just weeks after Harry and his father shared their first meeting in 19 months—a 50-minute tea at Clarence House in September. That meeting had sparked cautious optimism about a possible thaw in their strained relationship following Harry’s May legal defeat over his security arrangements.
Currently, Harry receives “bespoke” protection on a case-by-case basis during UK visits after losing his automatic round-the-clock security when he stepped back from royal duties in 2020. His new request has been submitted to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), the body responsible for determining security levels for royals and high-profile public figures.
The King’s Impossible Position
Royal sources emphasize that King Charles cannot intervene in Harry’s security case, despite the personal implications for their relationship.
“The King cannot and will not lobby—that’s inappropriate,” the source explained. “His representatives cannot advocate for policy outcomes, particularly in relation to his own family.”
The source added that the royal household representative on Ravec, which is overseen by the Home Office, serves purely as a liaison and is not there to champion any family member’s interests.
A Security Nightmare
Harry’s renewed push for protection comes amid alarming security breaches. A female stalker reportedly entered a secure zone at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in west London on September 9, just 20 minutes before Harry arrived for the WellChild Awards. The woman was found hiding in a hotel restroom “mumbling odd comments” about the Duke and was later photographed near his car after being removed.
Two days later, the same woman was spotted near Harry at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies. The stalker is believed to have followed the prince internationally, including during his three-day trip to Nigeria with Meghan Markle in May 2024.
Notably, Harry’s letter to the Home Secretary was sent before these incidents occurred last month.
“Difficult to Swallow”
The Duke has previously described the decision to revoke his automatic security as “difficult to swallow” and stated he “can’t see a world” in which he would bring his wife and children back to the UK without proper protection.
Harry has urged Prime Minister Keir Starmer to intervene and warned that the royal family’s influence over security decisions “can be used to control” family members. He also asked then-Home Secretary Yvette Cooper to examine the matter “very, very carefully.”
Last week, sources close to the Duke confirmed he requested a comprehensive risk assessment from Ravec alongside his letter to Mahmood.
Ravec’s membership includes representatives from the Home Office, Metropolitan Police, and the royal household. The committee determines protection levels for the royal family and key public figures operating in the UK.
The outcome of Harry’s latest security appeal—and its impact on his relationship with his father—remains uncertain.
