Duke of Sussex security to be reviewed

[bluegreygreen]

The Duke of Sussex lost his argument in the Court of Appeal in May for automatic taxpayer security: the current arrangement is that his security needs are assessed on a case-by-case basis provided he gives notice.

He has recently been in touch with the new Home Secretary, and the latest update is that RAVEC has asked its Risk Management Board (RMB) to reassess his threat level.

Telegraph archive link

He can pop back any time with his own security team in place.

If he expects the bells and whistles, ViP RF security he’s got to give notice.

As you said, ‘popping back because you feel homesick’ is not a valid reason to keep highly trained officers on 24/7 365 days a year to accommodate his whims. He is not a working royal, fulfilling royal duties.

Lots of normal people with young kids have to book holidays from work, organise childcare and save for the trip, so 28 days is probably normal for most people, and he’s ‘just call me Harry’ now

He says his own team isn't enough because they don't have access to intelligence.

He doesn’t live the life of a royal though. He’s cosplaying royal. He lives the life of a celebrity and even then by choice. He could live a quiet settled life if he wanted to. He doesn’t want to.

28 days is no big deal. People generally have to give much more notice than that to get time off work. Spontaneity is a luxury. Why should the British taxpayer pay for Harry to have that luxury?

Just saw I cross posted with @Justdancevance .

There I beg to differ, I think 28 days is pretty grim actually for someone whose entire family lives in another country. Presumably he will be given immediate security for any emergency situations but to not feel able to just pop back home because he feels homesick or because he fancies it, is pretty restrictive

If he wants to visit his family, he will automatically have security.

If he wants to stay elsewhere, he needs to give notice so that he can have tax-payer funded security in keeping with the current risk assessment, or use his own security team.

As he has previously refused to stay with his family, preferring hotels, and been seen knocking on the doors of strangers, we must assume he doesn't have serious security worries, and his arguments (and court cases) are only to make points.

Have we heard if he has paid the costs of the court case yet?

Harry is free to return to the country at any time. Just like any other private citizen.

However, if he wants specialist armed security then he needs to cooperate with the authorities and provide appropriate notice. Or travel with his American security team. Up to him.

The reality is that Harry has no role in the life of the nation and it's entirely irrelevant whether or not he chooses to visit.

It doesn't matter what Harry says. He hasn't got the first clue how the real world works.

Empty head, empty words, that's Harry. As his capacity for whinging seems infinite, I wonder what he will winge about if the new RAVEC review leads to no change in the level of protection deemed necessary.

I think it’s pretty harsh on him tbh.

He's an adult in his 40s who left a job and doesn't like that he doesn't get to keep the perks.

Exactly! People don’t seem to grasp that Harry left his “job” ( which arguably it was ) , nobody gets to leave their job then argue they should still get paid and keep the company car!! , that’s just life and the sooner he grasps that he’s irrelevant to the U.K. in an official capacity the better.

I think it’s pretty harsh on him tbh.

It would only be harsh on the poor armed police officers who would have to sit around waiting for a spoiled pampered ex working Prince to arrive in the UK for a jolly or have their leave cancelled if Harry decided he wanted to see his pals at Soho House, it would only be harsh on the British tax payer funding the whims of a Prince who does nothing for this country, I’m pretty sure I wouldn’t be the only tax payer livid if this ego trip was indulged.

The timing couldn't be worse for Harry if, heaven forbid, he is granted armed protection whenever he wants it, with no notice. The disgrace of Andrew, the Public Accounts Committee enquiry into the Crown Estate, the David Dimbleby programme, are all reminding us of the costs and deplorable behaviour of this family at a time when millions are struggling financially and our debt is virtually equal to GDP. He's already taken up hours of court time and we don't know if he has paid his court costs.

I agree that would normally be the situation, But it’s not as if the funds of Charles and William, and their wives, are paid solely for them to do their jobs.

No, the top royals are paid to simply exist as well. Unlike the rest of us, they don’t pay for rent, food, off duty clothing, transport; it’s all paid for them.

So I can understand why Harry feels a bit put out as he doesn’t get any share in the funds for just being a part of the royal family by genes.

Indeed particularly as those poor armed security guards reported being treated as servants expected to pick up coffee and groceries while in Canada!

I honestly don't see how his current security arrangements could be upgraded.

He has no official role. He doesn't live in the country. Yes, he's the King's son but we know for a fact that that in itself does not guarantee him armed security at all times. Even if he were still a working royal living in Britain, his security would likely be downgraded at some point, as it has been for others in the family.

And to repeat yet again, nobody has explained the logistics of how a private citizen resident in California could possibly have automatic armed protection without even having to provide notice. Perhaps @Restlesslimbs54 can let us know?

So I can understand why Harry feels a bit put out as he doesn’t get any share in the funds for just being a part of the royal family by genes.

Is this a joke?

Do you think this guy who scraped 2 A levels and has never had a real job got to live in a mansion in one of the most exclusive areas in California through his own merit?

Those are their private funds, Harry was previously paid by Charles from his duchy funds , he only got taxpayers money towards his security.
the sovereign grant money isn’t just given to them it’s for particular purposes.

Equally, one could argue that there could be considerable damage to the reputation of London and the UK, with attendant economic impacts, if God forbid something untoward did happen to Harry or a member of his family, as the publicity would be enormous.

It would also do untold damage to the reputation of the RF itself for not protecting him enough, even though the decision is taken by an independent body, we know now that representatives of the RF sit in on RAVEC meetings.

Indeed, Harry wasn’t able to put his own case to the RAVEC hearing. A representative of the Royal household did it for him! Which is pretty nuts in terms of objectivity! But there we are.

Equally, one could argue that there could be considerable damage to the reputation of London and the UK, with attendant economic impacts, if God forbid something untoward did happen to Harry or a member of his family, as the publicity would be enormous.

Imagine if Harry had a 'bespoke' arrrangement whereby the security needs of him and his family were kept under continual review and protection would be provided on the basis of current high level security assessments? Wouldn't that be ideal?

Indeed, Harry wasn’t able to put his own case to the RAVEC hearing. A representative of the Royal household did it for him! Which is pretty nuts in terms of objectivity! But there we are.

I'm honestly not sure if this is a wind up or not.

Harry is 'objective'?

And nobody gets to put their 'case' personally for security arrangements. That would be daft.

Do you know Harry's whine about the make up of RAVEC was dismissed by the judge in his failed JR? Speaking of which, has he refunded the HO, ie the taxpayer, for the legal costs of said JR?

Well I believe Dimbleby was probing that question and challenging some of the the answers in the second episode of his series on the royals.

I must confess I find the whole subject confusing! I think the RF hope that everyone does tbh!

There certainly needs to be more clarity and transparency over financial matters and what is publically funded and what is privately funded.

Well I’m afraid that not all of us find it confusing! , it’s been explained on here by far more knowledgeable posters , so respectfully I disagree because clearly you are arguing about things and systems you are not fully understanding or familiar with.

Nobody gets to put their 'case' personally for security arrangements

This is true and makes perfect sense since more professional minds are needed, @IcedPurple, but with Harry's attitude that only HE can be relied on to tell the truth and that everyone's "out to get him" it's not hard to see where his objections come from

That doesn't make them right though, and as you said the judge has made this clear - though in light of Harry's remarks about an "establishment stitch up" it clearly didn't down well

If I genuinely believed that my family and the 'establishment' were out to get me and deliberately conspired to deny me and my children security, then I would want nothing to do with them.

As I said above, Harry's presence isn't required in Britain. If he sincerely feels the country is unsafe and the entire establishment is out to get him, then the solution is staring us all in the face, is it not?

I think Harry’s side would like to believe that his safety matters to the British people, he said as much in his interview with the BBC.

The reality is that it does not. He is the most unpopular royal above his wife. He is not viewed with affection but rather irritation. Of course no-one wishes him any harm. But neither do the majority of the British public think it’s up to them to fund his protection, when many of them are struggling to make ends meet in their own lives.

The reputation of the RF would not suffer untold damage if he came to harm, most people recognise that Harry is the architect of his own downfall. The RF are more likely to garner sympathy than blame.

The reason there’s a member of the Royal Household on the RAVEC committee is ensure all parties’ interests are represented. Would you rather there was no representation from the royal side so that decisions were made exclusively from the perspective of the Home Office?