Prince Harry's last-minute UK visit proves his security concerns are a right royal farce
COMMENT: Could it be that Harry wants to perpetuate the illusion that he can only visit the UK with a Home Office funded security squad and not a trip he could make otherwise?
Could it be that Harry wanted to perpetuate the illusion that he can only visit the UK with a Home Office-funded security squad and not a trip he could make otherwise?
Sources close to the Duke of Sussex previously claimed that he is keen to spend more time in the UK, but the requirement to give 28-days' notice before his arrival has been a significant barrier. However, this logistical challenge seems to be more than just an inconvenience. It appears that Harry is leveraging his security concerns as a tool to manipulate his relationship with the Royal Family, particularly in the wake of his departure as a working royal in 2020.
Harry's complaints about security restrictions are well-documented, but it’s important to recognise how he has used these concerns as a convenient excuse to justify his absence from the UK - and more importantly, as a means to maintain a semblance of importance after stepping back from royal duties.
The Duke's reluctance to sometimes comply with the 28-day notice requirement, which would allow the Home Office to arrange appropriate security, shows that he is willing to come to the UK on a whim with the protection that's provided, or not provided, at the time.
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Harry's security fight seems less about safety and more about maintaining control over his narrative. He has the means to travel to the UK with his own security arrangements, so why doesn’t he?
The timing of his visit to the UK this week suggests that Harry is still keen to assert his relevance. To show the royals that he won't shy away from a meeting with his brother, William.
Both brothers also had events scheduled in New York in September, but they are now not expected to meet as William has decided against appearing at the Earthshot Innovation Summit scheduled at the same time as Harry's events - a clear indication that their relationship remains icy.
Harry’s appearance at Lord Fellowes’ memorial service, close to the Royal Family’s Sandringham Estate, might be seen by some as an olive branch. But given the history between him and his brother, it will take quite some time to repair those relations. And the duke's apparent wish to continue his security fight surely demonstrates that this is a very public show, one that is playing out a rather epic princely temper tantrum.
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Harry has used his profile to make a statement in the past. Since his and Meghan Markle’s exit from royal duties, the couple has orchestrated a series of media events - from the explosive Oprah interview to the Netflix documentary “Harry & Meghan” and Harry’s controversial memoir, Spare. Each of these has served to distance him further from his family while simultaneously keeping him in the spotlight.
The ongoing saga over his UK security arrangements fits neatly into this pattern. By framing his visits as fraught with difficulties due to security concerns, Harry positions himself as a victim of the Royal Family’s indifference, all while maintaining a strategic distance.
Despite the optics of Harry and William appearing together at Lord Fellowes’ memorial, sources reveal that the brothers sat apart and did not interact. This lack of engagement demonstrates the deep rift that remains between them - a rift that Harry seems in no hurry to mend. In fact, by continually emphasising his security issues, he perpetuates a narrative that keeps him at odds with the family while still tied to them.
Friends of the Spencer family have expressed hope that the brothers might one day reconcile, but this seems increasingly unlikely. The wounds inflicted by Harry’s public criticisms, particularly in Spare, are still fresh, and it’s hard to imagine how trust could be rebuilt. For William, who has borne the brunt of Harry’s attacks, there is little incentive to reach out to a brother who has repeatedly chosen public platforms to air grievances rather than private conversations to seek resolution.
In the end, Prince Harry’s ongoing security concerns seem less about actual safety and more about maintaining leverage over the Royal Family. By using these concerns as a pretext, Harry not only controls the terms of his visits but also continues to assert his relevance, even as he lives thousands of miles away from the heart of the monarchy. As the brothers continue to drift apart, one must wonder if Harry’s security concerns are merely a symptom of a deeper strategy to keep the Royal Family at arm’s length while still benefiting from his royal connections.
