SECURITY CONFUSION AT HARRY EVENT: Police officers arrive unarmed as bitter protection row continues to shadow Duke’s UK visit
Prince Harry pictured leaving Chatham House on Tuesday after hearing the Daily Mail ruling | GETTY
Fresh questions have been raised over Prince Harry’s security arrangements after two uniformed police officers were seen arriving at a central London event, despite the Duke of Sussex not being granted state-funded protection during his current visit to Britain.
The officers, who were not carrying firearms, were observed entering Chatham House on Tuesday afternoon shortly before Harry departed an Invictus Games Foundation engagement. Witnesses reported that they were escorted inside by members of the duke’s private security team, prompting confusion over their role.
Their presence has intensified scrutiny surrounding the long-running dispute over Harry’s protection, which has remained unresolved since he stepped down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2020.
The duke arrived in the UK on Monday for what had initially been planned as a combined trip involving official engagements and private family time. However, the ongoing disagreement over security arrangements has disrupted those plans.
Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet did not accompany their father and remain in the United States, with uncertainty continuing over whether they will travel to Britain at any point. The situation has also cast doubt on whether the children will be able to see King Charles during the visit, with the monarch having not met them in four years.
Members of Prince Harry’s security team and two Metropolitan Police Officers seen ahead of the duke’s departure from The Invictus Games Foundation Conversation
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GETTY
The security dispute dates back to the Sandringham Summit in early 2020, when Buckingham Palace confirmed that established procedures would determine eligibility for publicly funded protection. Harry later revealed that he was informed of the withdrawal of his security while in Canada, following his decision to step back from royal duties.
Speaking in a 2021 interview, the duke described the move as a “shock,” stating that he had not expected to lose protection given that he was “born into this position.”
Since then, the issue has remained a source of ongoing tension between Harry and the royal establishment, with the duke continuing to challenge the decision while relying on privately funded security during visits to the UK.
The latest incident at Chatham House is likely to add further pressure to an already contentious situation, raising renewed questions over how the prince is protected — and by whom — when he returns to Britain.
