The UK is Prince Harry’s home soil, but it is also where he feels the most unsafe. Unsurprisingly, he has strong doubts that being in the country bodes well for his family.
The Duke of Sussex, 39, shared his safety concerns for his family during a new interview for ITV’s documentary “Tabloids on Trial.” From what he said, it appears his wife, Meghan Markle, is at greater risk than the rest of the family, and it genuinely concerns him.
What Prince Harry Said About Bringing Meghan Markle to the UK
During his interview for ITV’s documentary “Tabloids on Trial,” Prince Harry opened up about how he feels about visiting the UK.
He said, “It’s still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read. And whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
In 2022, Neil Basu, the former head of counterterrorism for the Metropolitan Police, confirmed that there were genuine threats to the Duchess of Sussex’s life during her time in the U.K. Harry’s decision to leave the UK with his family was a response to security concerns he had for his family.
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After the couple stepped back as senior working royals, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) removed their automatic right to police security. Even when the Duke of Sussex offered to cover the costs of security, the bid was rejected, and earlier this year, High Court judge Peter Lane upheld the decision to downgrade his security.
Prince Harry plans to appeal the decision. A legal spokesperson said, “The Duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of RAVEC’s own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with RAVEC’s own written policy.”
How Prince Harry Feels About the UK
In a statement to the High Court in London at the time, Prince Harry said that he needed police security not only to guarantee his safety but also so that his two children could “feel at home” in his native country.
He said, “The U.K. is my home. The U.K. is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the United States. That cannot happen if there is no possibility to keep them safe when they are on U.K. soil.”
He added, “I can’t put my wife in danger like that, and given my experiences in life, I’m reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way, too.” Prince Harry and Meghan moved with their family to California in 2020.
Harry has been back to the UK on multiple occasions since, including his father’s coronation in May 2023, but the Duchess of Sussex has only visited on a handful of occasions. Her last visit was in September 2022 during Queen Elizabeth’s funeral events.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s children have not been on their home soil since June 2022, when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex attended events surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee.
Harry on the Rift Between His Family
During the new interview, Prince Harry also talked about how his battles against the tabloids have played a “central piece” in the rift with his family. The Duke of Sussex said, “That’s a hard question to answer because anything I say about my family results in a torrent of abuse from the press.”
“I’ve made it very clear that this is something that needs to be done. It would be nice if we did it as a family,” he continued. “I believe that, again, from a service standpoint and when you’re in a public role, that these are the things that we should be doing for the greater good. But I’m doing this for my reasons.”
Speaking about the royals’ decision not to speak out about the issue, he said, “I think everything that played out has shown people what the truth of the matter is. For me, the mission continues. But it has caused part of a rift.”
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