SCOTLAND Yard is to review the £600,000 24/7 security given to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their dramatic decision to step back from the Royal Family.
Despite the huge news of the split, which was announced last night, London Mayor Sadiq Khan said this morning their security was an “operational decision taken by the Met police”.
8
Currently Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are protected by six full-time bodyguards, thought to be at a yearly cost of £600,000.
It is unclear what their security will be if they choose to split their time between the UK and North America, as they are planning.
But a senior source told the Evening Standard: “Royal Protection by armed Metropolitan Police officers is mandated by the Home Office.
“Until now their official roles mean the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son are classified as internationally protected people.
“That stays in place for now. But as the circumstances have changed there will now be a full review.
“If the Sussexes intend to live abroad, and not just carry out international official visits abroad, it will involve far more resources.
“This will have to be reviewed and signed off by the Commissioner.
“There is no guarantee it will be granted.”
What we know so far:
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in their surprise statement last night: “After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
“We intend to step back as ‘senior’ members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
A curt statement from Buckingham Palace admitted discussions with the couple will be “complicated” and are at an “early stage”.
It is unclear how the Royal couple plan live financially independently.
At the moment they are funded by Harry’s father, Prince Charles’ estate, as well as getting a slice of the Sovereign Grant.
Harry is thought to have some extra money from his grandmother, the Queen, and left to him by his mother, the late Princess Diana.
The couple have also said they want to keep Frogmore cottage – the home taxpayers spent millions on last year.
The Met Police were heavily involved in the couple’s six-week holiday in Canada and North America over Christmas – as their protection services were required there too.
The resource is said to have involved more than ten officers.
Another source told the newspaper: “This is simply not practical going forward given officers working in the department have families and private lives to consider too. It is also a question of resources.”
The Sussex’s new website states that the Duke and Duchess “are classified as internationally protected people which mandates this level of security”.
But most senior Royals don’t have full-time protection officers.
Moving abroad could raise the possibility of another country picking up the security bill too.
A Met Police spokesman said: “We never discuss matters of security.”
8
8
8
8
It comes after The Sun revealed they were due to discuss plans to move abroad, and Meghan yesterday visited The National’s Dorfman Theatre in London.
The couple had reportedly told close friends they want to spend some of the next two months working out of Canada after a six-week trial holiday over Christmas and New Year was deemed highly successful.
It’s also been claimed that the final straw for Harry and Meghan was the official release of a new royal portrait featuring The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.
8
8
8
