Why can’t Harry just pay for his own private security?

[jennylamb1]

Don’t get it. He says that he can’t ever visit the UK again because his security won’t be provided. Loads of celebrities and high profile business people pay for their own security, why should tax payers pay for his security when he isn’t a working royal anymore?

To be honest, I actually don’t. I do believe royals should have protection depending on threat but I don’t they’re that much to worry about. Zara Phillips etc have been walking round all their life without security.

I don’t think royals are that important.

even so, it’s obvious that the reason Harry can’t pay for the security he wants is because it’s not for sale, and that is right.

This ⬆️

That's why he gets taxpayers' funded security whenever he comes to the UK.

I agree.

I mean, I can see that Harry is more high profile. But Queen Elizabeth’s other grandchildren are still grandchildren (and now nieces/nephews) of the monarch. And they are fine without security.

ETA - but that’s irrelevant anyway, since Harry does get security!

He said the security he gets basically amounts to someone on the end of a phone, and far from adequate. I don't know how true that is.

Yes. They are risk assessed by the security services, and appropriate protection is put in place. As it should be. I don't understand the problem with this.

He said in the interview he will only get any kind of security when he visits the UK if he's invited on an official visit, he can't visit privately.

really?

The phone call is him giving notice of his plans.
This is what he resents.
Do you genuinely think he isn't guarded? Has anyone ever seen him on a bus or shopping in Boots on his own? Come on. The UK government does not want him to come to harm, they put in appropriate protection.

On that basis, all of the Queen's grandchildren were also potential targets but there was no armed protection in place for the children of Princess Anne, Prince Edward or Prince Andrew because it wasn't deemed necessary. None of them came to any harm.

Yes, Diana did refuse Royal Protection which almost certainly did contribute to her death. But her death was caused by a car accident in Paris and not an attempt to kidnap and murder her in GB.

Yes he can, he just has to give the Home Office 28 days notice.

Harry and Meghan make themselves a target by all the media they attract. If they actually lied low like they said they wanted the interest would die down.

Well he could send the Home Office a text to let them know he is on his way if a phone call is too arduous for him.

Meghan and the children are included in protection. Why would they not be? They'd send a special limousine with close protection for Harry, but make Meghan and the children get a taxi?
By the way, they're not allowed to take taxis, although I noticed Harry and Meghan did so in New York. I can't imagine that's safer.

He's Prince Harry. If he never did anything to deliberately put himself in the public eye ever again he'll always be Prince Harry, famous royal, son of/ eventually brother of the King. He didn't get a choice about becoming famous and has limited options to turn it off.

Yes, that's why he will always get security in the UK at a high level.

Where on earth have you got this nonsense from? Do you really think they only protect Harry and leave Meghan and the children to fend for themselves? Honestly I despair.

@AgnesX - Edward, Anne and Sophie only get security when performing royal duties.
So Harry automatically gets a higher level than them.

And he will always get security, where does it say anywhere that he doesn’t?

He said in the interview he will only get any kind of security when he visits the UK if he's invited on an official visit, he can't visit privately.

If that is true, it puts him on exactly the same level as every other member of the RF, except the K & Q and the Waleses. Working royals only get security when on official royal engagements, not in their day-to-day private lives. Non-working royals do not get security.

He does pay for security, however Scotland Yard security is supposed to be the best and as a born royal, he has technically always been entitled to it.

Remember his mother gave up her security when she was divorced from Charles, obviously it was there when she was with her children but otherwise not.

To this day the people at Scotland Yard say had they been looking after Princess Diana, what happened would not have happened, for a start she wouldn't have got into that car and secondly there would have been a team of security which would have kept the harassing paparazzi away.

I don't think it is at all unreasonable for Harry to have the same security as the rest of his royal family if he visits the UK. It was an outrage that it was taken away so suddenly while he, Meghan and Archie were on Vancouver Island. Chaos descended. Thankfully they managed to escape and obtained some privacy thanks to Tyler Perry.

It's the principle as much as anything. As Harry himself says, he didn't ask to be born into the royal family but he was and therefore should be properly protected as they all are. I'm not saying it is completely foolproof, nothing ever is, but it is extremely efficient and round the clock.

I would like to see him, Meghan and the two children here sometimes. The two little ones are the King's grandchildren and the family needs to be able to relax, not worrying about people looking through their windows.

They got security when they were in Canada. Officers were sent to protect them.

Why automatically; now that William has three children, does Harry not slip down in the hierarchy?

So what’s the issue for him then ? Can’t he give 28 days notice?

Because he has assessments based on any threats. They all get threats, in spite of what some people claim, but it's true to say that Harry is high profile. Anne, Edward and Sophie do not pursue a celebrity lifestyle and do not constantly seek publicity, to wit, they are probably less at risk than a very controversial figure such as Harry.
However, it's entirely up to the security services because they act on intelligence. So that changes frequently.