Prince Harry is facing the possibility of being confined to his Frogmore Cottage residence on the Windsor Castle Estate during the upcoming bank holiday weekend, as he has been denied round-the-clock police protection for the King’s coronation event.
The Duke of Sussex, aged 38, is currently embroiled in a legal battle with the Home Office at the High Court regarding the decision to remove taxpayer-funded security for him and his family while they are in the UK.
Following his and Meghan’s decision to step back from their royal duties in 2020 and relocate to the United States, the couple has ventured into lucrative corporate partnerships with major streaming platforms like Netflix and Spotify.
Harry also secured a substantial £33 million deal for his memoir, “Spare,” which hit the shelves in January.
Despite assurances that Harry will have security coverage during official royal engagements over the coronation weekend, similar to the arrangements made for previous significant events such as the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and Her Majesty’s funeral, he will need to arrange and finance his own private security detail if he intends to engage in any social activities outside of the scheduled ceremonies.
Former Head of Royal Protection for the Metropolitan Police, Dai Davis, highlighted that if Harry remains as concerned about his safety as he has indicated to the High Court, he may essentially find himself living under a form of house arrest while in the UK.
While security will be provided for the main events, any additional outings or excursions will require Harry to cover the costs for private protection services.
Close associates of the Duke have recently emphasized that Harry’s visit for the coronation is expected to be brief, suggesting that his time in the UK will be limited to the essential royal obligations.
The situation underscores the complexities and challenges faced by Harry in balancing security concerns with his desire for personal freedom and mobility.
As discussions surrounding the security arrangements for the Duke continue to unfold, the public remains curious about how these developments will impact his presence at the coronation festivities and the broader implications for his future engagements in the UK.