Prince Harry: Time to Face Facts
As Security Suit Advances, Harry Needs to Hear a Blunt Truth
It’s impossible to know which trusted friend or aide has Prince Harry’s ear these days. And even harder to know how well versed that person is in matters of British life and constitutional monarchy.
But hopefully, one person from his past or present life, has the knowledge and sense to sit Harry down, and bravely tell him something he may not want to hear.
Harry. It is time to move on.
On Friday, he was granted limited permission to proceed with a Judicial Review into the government’s decision on his security, to determine if he’s still entitled to elite Royal Protection Officers when he’s in the UK. It’s a battle he will almost certainly eventually lose, and, based on the government’s early testimony, likely be forced to cover related costs on both sides.
When Harry decided to leave his royal highness days behind, and trade life as a working royal for working life in the United States, he lost the perks that went with the old job.
That is it, in its simplest form.
Harry (and his fans) may not like that fact, but that is indeed a fact. (Few jobs will keep the perks coming after you’ve spectacularly left your post — and, by the way, embarrassed your old boss in the process.)
At that time, in February 2020, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) made the decision that as non-working royals living abroad, Harry (and his wife) would no longer qualify for taxpayer-funded, full time armed police protection. (Reminder: most police officers in the UK are not armed, only select units.)
Almost a year and a half later, in September 2021, Harry instructed his lawyers to appeal, by applying for what’s known as a Judicial Review of the decision. On Friday a judge ruled that he could proceed, but limited the evidence he could use.
Let’s first make a few facts clear, so everyone can better understand what’s in play here. Some background:
The Royal Family might make good celebrity gossip in other parts of the world, but in the UK, The Queen has an important constitutional role as monarch and Head of State. The senior members of the family, particularly those in the direct line of succession, also have official duties. When they carry out engagements or attend public events, they almost always do so on an official basis on behalf of the Monarch. It is very much a Job.
Funding the family, and providing certain members with taxpayer funded security, creates an increasingly hot debate. The Prince of Wales has always been in step with public opinion, polls show the majority of Brits want (and will support) a slimmed down monarchy, an “official” family consisting of the monarch and direct heirs only.
Royal police protection came under an intense spotlight more than a decade ago, when sky-high costs were incurred because of a globe-trotting Princess Eugenie, who spent a year travelling the world with taxpayer funded police officers in tow.
That scandal resulted in many lesser members of the family being relieved of their round-the-clock protection. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie of York were fifth and sixth in line to the throne when they lost those protection officers.
Worth noting that as fifth in line to the throne at the time, Princess Beatrice was higher ranking than Harry is now, was still living in the UK, and would have been considered in the “direct line of succession.”
Harry is now looking to have his full-time, armed police protection reinstated when he is in the UK. And much has been made of the fact that he has repeatedly, and very publicly, offered to pay for it.
But unfortunately for Harry, that is completely irrelevant, because he is first and foremost requesting something that no longer exists.
When Harry left the working Royal Family, his team was disbanded and presumably assigned other duties. It’s not as if there are random, uniquely skilled Protection Officers sitting around looking for something to do when he happens to be in town.
Harry’s request means the government would have to create a team when he and his family are in the UK. If that is done, Harry is offering to pay the associated costs.
But armed police protection officers are not for sale to the highest bidder. And opening that door would be foolish, allowing only the wealthiest citizens to deplete a public police force for personal use. Just as Bill Gates or Brad Pitt can’t hire the US Secret Service for their personal protection.
(Some former prime ministers with *existing* teams, have privately reimbursed security costs when those teams have worked outside their “normal” assignments — basically paying their overtime for additional work.)
Harry pays for his own private security in the United States, and that private security would be allowed to travel with him in the UK, but their guns would not. That is one issue. The second issue, Harry’s legal team argued that his security would not have access to current police intelligence and risk assessments.
According to reporters, that claim was quickly squashed at the first hearing, lawyers for the government told the High Court that RAVEC was aware Harry held a ‘particular and unusual position’ and so security for the Duke of Sussex was ‘flexible’ and considered on a ‘case by case basis’ — in other words if there was a known threat, Harry would be provided appropriate security, just as any visiting dignitary would.
In perhaps the most humiliating moment for Harry, the judge reportedly wanted to know why, if he was so concerned about this, did he wait a year and a half to request a review of the decision. His lawyers could only mutter something about Harry being ‘in an enormous state of flux’ at the time. One that lasted 18 months. Not the excuse most courts want to hear.
There is reason to be sympathetic. Harry was born into this, he didn’t choose it. He wants his family to have top security when he’s in the UK, a desire many high-profile people share.
But there is an easy, and immediate, remedy Harry has chosen to ignore.
In most high-profile cases in the UK, retired or former protection officers are hired to guard wealthy, famous, or prominent people. These are well-regarded, uniquely skilled officers with specialised backgrounds, who still have trusted contacts and links, allowing them to liaise with existing police units. (Just as retired Secret Service officers often move into exclusive private security details in the US.)
These elite private teams are used by some of London’s wealthiest citizens. Harry’s own father, none other than the future King himself, has hired former protection officers. There are entire security companies that serve London’s billionaires, not to mention other famous faces. (The Beckhams have reportedly used former military officers, and the Clooneys have reportedly used former government agents.)
Again, if Scotland Yard felt it was in the national interest, if they had an existing threat, or intelligence indicated a higher risk, that’s generally the criteria for official security to be provided.
You have to conclude it is Harry’s decision alone to proceed with this, hard to imagine anyone telling him he has a solid case here. If the first decision is any indication, there may be more rejection ahead. Of course, when the people in his ear are making tens of thousands of pounds in fees from his decisions, you can imagine their guidance is not always impartial.
Speaking of income, Harry has his own to consider. After their bombshell exit, Harry and Meghan seemed to occupy two separate universes: Increasingly disliked in the UK, yet adored and celebrated by many in the US.
But Harry is not the only one who’s been in a ‘state of flux.’ The entire world has struggled during a global pandemic and tough economic times. An ever-litigious multi-millionaire Prince is not exactly a winning PR strategy. Eventually, people tire of the drama, and what’s perceived to be endless legal complaints.
Right now, what any friend or adviser needs to tell him: You quit your job, Harry. It’s time to Move on.
You felt trapped, and now you’re free. You live in a magnificent home, in a fantastic community, that, in your words, “opened its arms to you.” You have a loving wife, healthy children, income others can only dream of, and a lifestyle most people would envy. You have the means and profile that give you the chance to take the world by storm.
That is a rare and special place to occupy.
Move on from your working Royal life, move on from discussing that Royal life, and most of all, Move On from challenging decisions that were made because you chose to leave that Royal life behind.
You quit that job, Harry. But the world is still yours. Onward.
