Duke and Duchess of Sussex view school run as primary security risk
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex regard the daily school run as their primary security risk following their return to the UK, reports BritPanorama.
The couple returned to Britain late last month alongside their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.
Their relocation back to the UK comes after six years spent living in California, following their decision to step down as senior working royals in 2020.
The family has since settled into a private home in the Cotswolds.
While the Sussexes’ children are expected to start at a British prep school this month, the family is still awaiting clarification from the Home Office regarding whether they will receive taxpayer-funded police protection during their stay, according to The Telegraph.
State-funded protection remains a contentious issue in the UK, where private security is legally prohibited from carrying firearms.
The security debate has been exacerbated by the couple’s previous explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 and Prince Harry’s memoir Spare, published in 2023, which included details of his military service that raised concerns about heightened personal risk.
Prince Harry has engaged in a multi-year legal battle against the Home Office over its 2020 decision to strip him of automatic police bodyguards, a challenge he ultimately lost in court.
In July, the Duke was informed that a long-delayed fresh risk assessment had been conducted; however, he has reportedly received no information regarding its findings.
Sources indicate the Duke has repeatedly sent letters to the Home Secretary and the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) demanding updates.
The Sussexes fear the routine nature of school drop-offs makes them vulnerable to paparazzi, social media tracking, and potential “lone wolf” threats.
Former Metropolitan Police protection officer Scott Hamer highlighted that fixed locations like schools create significant security challenges. “With the school run, you can vary the route as much as you like, but the start and end point will almost always be the same,” Hamer noted.
The Sussexes have faced major security threats before; in May 2023, security personnel in Montecito intercepted an armed intruder near their residence.
A 40-page report from Prince Harry’s private security firm indicated an “elevated risk” to the family in the UK. The report revealed that five of the six identified homegrown terror plots targeting the Duke in previous years originated from the UK, leading to a heightened risk profile.
The Duke reportedly informed the Home Secretary in mid-August that his family would reside in the UK for a minimum of six months.
The Home Office maintains that Ravec does not provide automatic coverage to non-working royals, instead designing bespoke security arrangements based on individual visit context and risk assessments.
The Sussexes have yet to comment on the situation.
