How Harry and Meghan’s foreign move could cost taxpayers MILLIONS more in security costs: Scotland Yard review arrangements over fears £600,000-per-year bill could balloon
- Duke and Duchess of Sussex insisted that they quit to have more independence
- Currently they require an armed team of at least six officers to accompany them
- Even their seven-week holiday saw them joined by more than ten police officers
- Ex-royal protection unit chief superintendent warns they will still cost millions
Scotland Yard is to review Harry and Meghan’s security arrangements, it emerged last night, as experts warned that protecting them in future could cost taxpayers millions.
The bill for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s highly trained protection team, which stands at about £600,000 a year, is picked up by the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty And Specialist Protection Command.
But last night the future arrangements were unclear after Harry and Meghan raised the prospect of spending much of their time abroad. During royal foreign visits, the high cost of providing officers to secure crowds is met by the host country, but it is unclear whether that would still be expected as they jet around the globe.
Pictured: Meghan, The Duchess of Sussex, flanked by her police protection officer and Fijian security officers as she visits Suva Market in October last year
Currently, an armed team made up of at least six officers accompany the couple at all times. But their seven-week holiday in Canada over Christmas involved more than ten officers, as replacements had to be flown out to maintain the rota.
Dai Davies, a former chief superintendent who led the Metropolitan Police’s royal protection unit, said: ‘It is going to cost millions to protect Harry and Meghan in the long term. If you look at the cost in terms of police officers – their salary, overtime, overseas allowance, pensions, accommodation, flights etc – the total resource budget is going to be in excess of £100,000 per officer.
‘Prince Harry’s threat level is particularly high. The security arrangements will be very complex. I do not think they have thought any of this through at all.’
Last night it emerged that a joint committee made up of the Home Secretary Sajid Javid, the Metropolitan Police’s royal protection command chief and palace officials will assess whether the couple’s 24-hour protection should continue when their circumstances change. It is expected that the independent body, known as the Royal And VIP Executive Committee, will consider the position only once the couple’s actual plans are known.
Prince Harry leaves the True Patriot Love Symposium surrounded by his Canadian security detail on the eve of the Invictus Games 2017 Toronto, Canada
Princess Diana jettisoned her police protection team in 1993 before her divorce from Prince Charles. Lord Condon, the then Met Commissioner, begged her to reinstate the team and later told the inquest into her death that he believed she would still be alive if her security had not been removed.
A number of royals do not have state-funded security, including the Queen’s granddaughter Zara Tindall. Prince Andrew pays for his daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, to be guarded by former Met close-protection officers when they appear at high-profile events. Their taxpayer-funded protection was removed following controversy over the cost, estimated to have been £500,000 a year.
A Met Police spokesman said: ‘We never discuss matters of security.’