Inside Harry's battle for PROTECTION

Prince Harry says he's not safe in the UK without royal bodyguards. But who are the men and women who protect the royals? And who pays? By Emily Andrews

- Emily Andrews

Despite all the court cases Prince Harry has brought against the UK press, the one that 'matters the most' is his battle against the UK government (and, in effect, the King).

When the Duke of Sussex, 40, stepped back from royal duties and moved to the USA, the Home Office decided to remove his official security. Round-the-clock police protection is provided only to senior royals (the monarch, heir and his/her family), and paid for by the UK taxpayer.

Harry and Meghan's Metropolitan police security was removed in March 2020, and so they employed an American private security firm to protect them. But Harry has since said it's too dangerous to bring his wife and children back to the UK without adequate police protection, and took the UK government to court over the matter - recently losing in his attempt to have his security reinstated at the Court of Appeal.

Members of the Met

All royal protection officers, those assigned to members of the government, former prime ministers, ambassadors, visiting heads of state and other individuals deemed to be at risk are serving members of the Met, with at least 10-15 years of experience before entering this highly specialised field.

The besuited men and women following discreetly behind a royal are members of Scotland Yard's Royalty Protection Group (known by their call sign SO14). Formed in 1983, they usually carry a Glock 9mm pistol, radio and first aid kit. They are responsible for Personal and Close Protection (looking after individual family members like the King or Princess of Wales), guarding royal residences (such as Anmer Hall for the Wales family, and Clarence House for the King and Queen) and the Special Escort Group.