Prince Harry and Meghan plan UK return as security review nears final decision
The couple are reportedly preparing to come back to Britain once the security review concludes, sparking debate over taxpayer-funded police protection.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Reports in tomorrow's Times suggest Prince Harry and Meghan are planning to return to Britain, with the timing tied to the conclusion of a security review. The story, discussed widely in broadcast commentary, focuses on whether the couple will receive the 24-hour police protection they have previously demanded.
The security committee, RAVEC, is said to have carried out a complete reassessment a month ago and has now done another. Politicians have already begun to stake out positions: Lord Blunkett has argued the couple should get only a limited amount of protection, while Labour's Emily Thornberry has said Harry absolutely deserves full police cover. Some observers believe these statements are laying the groundwork for a decision to grant security when Harry and Meghan return.
The Times front page is framed around the public mood, summarised as "Britain's want Prince Harry to make up and cough up." This suggests the public do not want to fund the couple's private security and want Harry to make the first move toward reconciliation with the royal family. However, the couple reportedly believe the royals owe them an apology after the accusations they made about racism and toxic behaviour.
There is also scepticism about how much the royal family really knew. The official line that the King only found out about the plans on Sunday has been questioned, given that Harry and Meghan were reportedly in the UK recently to look at houses and schools. The broader suspicion is that the couple have been given a quiet signal that security will be approved, which would help explain why they are returning now. It was only 15 months ago that Harry said he could not see a world in which he would bring his wife and children back to Britain.
Money may also be a motive. The couple face a reported legal bill of £35 million from their recent court battle, and there is speculation they need the profile boost that comes with being photographed alongside the King and Queen Camilla. The implication is that they will come back not as working royals, but to trade on their royal connections to earn money.
The cost of security has been estimated at around £5 million a year, and if taxpayers have to carry that bill, it is likely to provoke significant public opposition.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | GB News |
|---|---|
| A judge ordered Prince Harry and six others to pay an initial £9.5 million in legal costs, and ruled that the Mail can claim costs on an indemnity basis because the claims were unreasonable to a high degree. | |
| Emily Thornberry said Prince Harry absolutely deserves police protection. | |
| RAVED conducted a complete reassessment of Prince Harry's security a month ago. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
The segment focused on the Times front page and the public's resentment at the idea of Harry and Meghan returning at taxpayer expense. The presenter and guest Carol Malone were heavily critical, suggesting the couple were returning for money and profile, and dismissing the claim that the King only learned about the plan on Sunday. The tone was hostile to the couple and supportive of the idea that they should not get security paid for by the public.
- “Because Harry and Meghan, for some bizarre reason, think the royal family owes them an apology.”
- “British taxpayers are going to have to cough up five million quid a year for their security.”
- “I suspect he's had the nod, he's going to get it.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.