Security Aspects

[Harold]

All reigning royal families have protection from security services. Can we start a list of who or what agency is responsible for protecting the various monarchs? I know in the United Kingdom the royals are protected by a special section of the Metropolitan Police. I assume that the other monarchs (Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Luxemburg, Liechtenstein, etc.) are protected by the police agencies of their countries? How is the decision made concerning which royals get security? At some point the relationship of some relatives becomes too remote, right?

[TLLK]

This is an interesting question. I wonder who might have some answers.

[LadyK]

Any royal who visits the US is (usually) automatically put under the care of the Secret Service or federal police. The same is true for other visiting dignitaries and heads of state, such as the British Prime Minister. However, most royals travel with their personal security teams.

I expect that all the royals who serve public functions are eligible to receive some sort of protection, as needed. Lesser royals probably need, and receive less protection. For example, I expect (this is just my guessing) that Prince Friso and Princess Mabel do not have full time, twenty-four seven bodyguards following them around London, but WA and Maxima do have 24-7 protection.

[Harold]

I read in an article about Prince William and Kate's trip to Scotland that they flew a commercial flight with only one bodyguard. I would have thought he would have had more than one guard.

[RoyalProtocol]

Living in Northern Ireland we have very strict Royal security, The visit is kept top secret until the Royal has moved on to the next engagement and we never know when they are coming. Though when you get used to it you can work out when a visit will be, a traffic announcement for Hillsborough where a Garden Party is to be held is often a good clue.