Harry and Meghan’s security: officials ‘will reconsider armed protection’
Ravec could change their decision over providing armed police protection to the Duke and Duchess of Sussex upon their return to the UK.
The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) is planning to restart its review of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's claim for taxpayer-funded security upon their return to the UK.
Listen to this article
It's understood Ravec officials will also have to decide on what level of security should be granted if they agree to provide police protection.
The organisation had been examining the case for providing the Sussexes with automatic armed security each time they visited the UK.
But the couple's announcement that they will return home and live outside of London at an undisclosed non-royal residence could affect the decision over protection.
Read More: Meghan 'in talks' for role in Guy Ritchie’s The Gentlemen’ as Duchess 'prepares to return' to acting
The assessment will be more straightforward as it would be similar to that of most other high-profile figures who request or require security, according to The Times.
A decision is not expected to be made before the Sussexes return to the UK next week, but a temporary solution may be put in place until then.
On Thursday, the Prime Minister insisted the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's security arrangements were a 'private matter ', while government officials said it was not a foregone conclusion.
Ministers do not have any involvement in the decision over providing security for high-profile individuals.
When Harry and Meghan decided to step down as working royals in January 2020 while still living in the UK, their security protection was removed.
Richard Aitch, a former member of the Royal Military Police close protection unit, told the Radio Times that the Sussexes should be provided with some form of government-provided security.
But he insisted that the public should not foot the entire bill because Harry was not a working royal.
"You don’t need to be a security genius to make any determination that the level of security must be provided to Harry.”
He added: “There has to be a workaround solution. There has to be a collaboration. And I’m in full agreement that the UK taxpayer shouldn’t fill the entire bill here."
“However, he is a member of the royal family. He is still going to attend specific royal functions and venues every so often.”
Ravec was due to assess Harry’s requirement for taxpayer-funded armed police protection in March, but it was delayed for months amid a backlog.
Harry requested a review of his security at the end of last year after losing his court battle with the Home Office that year over Ravec’s decision not to provide automatic police protection, and was granted a fresh assessment.
The prince must currently give a month’s notice before each visit to Britain, so that risk assessments can be made. However, on each return trip, he has been declined full police protection.
The couple, who employ private security in the United States, have not commented on the latest assessments of their security arrangements when they return to Britain.
Harry and Meghan announced on Wednesday that they are returning to Britain after six years living in California.
Sources have not denied that Meghan, who starred in the hit legal drama Suits before becoming a royal, may return to her former career once settled.
Reports have now suggested she is in discussions about joining the Guy Ritchie Netflix series for its third season.
Deadline reports that the talks are in very early stages, with The Gentlemen not yet renewed for a third series.
Meghan was best known for playing lawyer Rachel Zane in Suits for seven seasons. The last episode of the legal drama aired in 2018.
She paused her acting career after marrying Harry in May 2018.
Reports claim that the Sussexes are planning a move to the Cotswolds after their years in Montecito, with their two children, Archie and Lilibet, set to enrol in UK schools.
The Duke shared a heartwarming reunion with the King during a brief visit earlier this year.
Despite their relationship with Charles recovering, the pair are said to be keen to put their series of highly controversial media outings behind them, according to several media outlets.
The pair's first, and most damaging, interview came as they spoke to Oprah Winfrey in 2021 - when Meghan made an accusation of racism against an unnamed member of the Royal Family.
Harry later released his 2023 memoir, titled Spare, which made several fresh allegations against his family.
The interviews reportedly severed the last bonds of trust within the family.
The Royal Family is largely currently on a summer break at Balmoral in Scotland, with a relaxing holiday now said to be turned into a crisis given the imminent return of the Sussexes.
All eyes will be on Harry's relationship with his brother, Prince William, after his memoir detailed a physical altercation between the formerly close siblings.