The Duke of Sussex’s victory could open the door for King Charles to finally reunite with his grandchildren Archie, 6, and Lilibet, 4, who have been living across the pond with their parents.
The last time the monarch saw the young royals was way back in June 2022 during the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations.
Since then, Harry has insisted it’s simply too risky for his family to set foot on British soil without proper security measures in place.
The duke even went to battle in the High Court earlier this year to try to get his taxpayer-funded police protection reinstated, but he ultimately lost that fight and blamed it on an “establishment stitch-up.”
Millions spent on security in the States
Now, in a shocking twist, The Sun reported the Home Office has had a change of heart and ordered a fresh review of the prince’s security situation. This marks the first threat assessment for Harry since he sensationally quit as a working royal in 2020 and jetted off to start a new life in the US.
Back in the day, the duke was considered to be at the highest level of risk, second only to the Queen herself and the Prime Minister. But his risk rating was reportedly downgraded in February 2020, resulting in his automatic right to armed police protection being revoked.
After losing his royal security detail, Harry fled to America with Meghan Markle and their son Archie. The couple welcomed daughter Lilibet the following year. It’s estimated that the Sussexes’ annual security bill in the States runs into the millions.
Threat level to be reassessed after six years
Now, after nearly six long years, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) has finally instructed its Risk Management Board to reevaluate the threat against Harry. The process is said to be underway, with evidence being gathered from the police, the government, and the prince’s own team.
The Home Office, which oversees Ravec, is expected to make a decision by next month. If they determine Harry does require armed police protection, it will be funded by the taxpayers whenever he’s on UK soil.
As it stands, the duke has to give the Met Police 30 days’ notice before traveling to Britain so they can assess his security needs on a case-by-case basis. Some argue this ad hoc approach actually costs more than just assigning him a few salaried armed officers for his infrequent visits.
The Home Office previously said it was “pleased” with the court ruling in May that shot down Harry’s bid to regain automatic police protection. However, the prince, who now resides in California, has maintained he doesn’t feel safe bringing his wife and kids to the UK in the current circumstances.
Duke slams ‘establishment stitch-up’
In an explosive 30-minute interview, the seething royal tore into the decision, branding it “a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up.”
“The other side have won in keeping me unsafe,” Harry fumed. “I can’t see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back at this point.”
Flying solo for family visits
Since the court battle, the duke has made the journey back to Britain alone, including a trip in September where he attended charity events and met his father for the first time in over a year and a half.
He has also reached out to the new Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood directly, requesting she review his risk level.
A government spokesman remained coy about Harry’s situation, telling The Sun: “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.
“It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”
Meanwhile, a spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex declined to comment on the matter.