Harry and Meghan's UK Security Under Review as Children Switch Schools

Prince Harry and Meghan have returned to the United Kingdom as permanent residents, and that shift in status has triggered a formal reassessment of their police protection. The committee responsible for overseeing security for royals and other high-profile figures—known as Ravec, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures—has begun the process of determining what level of publicly-funded protection the couple and their two children now require. The review marks a significant change from their previous arrangement, when they were treated as occasional visitors to the country rather than full-time inhabitants.

The security assessment will examine the specific risks the family faces in their new home and will take into account their daily movements and routines, including the routes they travel regularly and the logistics of getting their children to school. Ravec, which draws representatives from the Home Office, police forces, and the Royal Household, met last week to discuss the case. The committee has indicated it is prepared to evaluate potential threats, and a Risk Management Board will now consider what level of police protection is appropriate—though no final determination has yet been made.

The urgency of these security concerns became apparent almost immediately after the family's arrival. Their two children, Archie, who is seven, and Lilibet, who is five, began attending a new school earlier this month. Within days, however, the Sussexes withdrew both children from that school, citing security worries. The private security team working for the couple had determined that the original school route presented problems that could not be adequately managed—the distance involved and the volume of traffic on the commute made it difficult to establish secure transportation protocols. The names of either school have not been made public. In a statement, a source close to the couple emphasized that the decision to switch schools reflected no criticism of the original institution or the care the children had received there, and expressed gratitude to the staff.

This is not the first time Prince Harry has engaged in disputes over his security arrangements. He previously pursued a legal challenge against the decision to withdraw his police protection when he was living in the United States and visiting the UK. That case was unsuccessful. His circumstances have now changed fundamentally, however. The family's permanent relocation to Britain creates a different legal and practical framework for how their security is funded and managed.

For Meghan, this security review represents the first formal assessment of her protection needs since she and Prince Harry stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and moved to the United States. Prince Harry underwent a risk assessment earlier in the summer, though that review took place before it became clear that the family would be returning to live in the UK full-time. The new review will be the first to evaluate threats against both of them as permanent residents.

The family has begun to establish a visible presence in their new home. Over the weekend, Meghan posted video footage on social media showing the family on an outing in the countryside, offering a glimpse of their life in the UK. Separately, developments in Prince Harry's other major commitment—the Invictus Games, the international sporting competition for injured servicemen and women—have also shifted. Uganda had appeared likely to withdraw from next year's games following a letter sent on behalf of King Charles that reiterated the couple's status as non-working royals. However, the King's private secretary spoke directly with Uganda's military leadership to reassure them of the King's support for their participation, and Uganda has now confirmed it will take part. The security review will continue in the coming weeks as the family settles into their new circumstances.