The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family 12: Jan 2026 -

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Combined Arms of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex

Welcome to The Sussex Family News & Events, Part 12

Commencing 1 January 2026
The previous thread can be found here
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[Queen Claude]

Prince Harry stalker scare means he's 'nailed on' to be given armed police guards for UK visits, insiders claim​

By CHARLOTTE GRIFFITHS, EDITOR-AT-LARGE, MAIL ON SUNDAY
Published: 18:00 EST, 3 January 2026 | Updated: 20:52 EST, 3 January 2026

Prince Harry has won his fight for automatic taxpayer-funded armed police protection when he visits the UK, according to sources close to the Sussexes.

A ruling in the duke's favour, expected to be announced within weeks, could allow for a reunion between King Charles and his grandchildren Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, who live in the US.

Sources close to the Sussexes told The Mail on Sunday that the reinstatement of armed security has been assured after a fresh risk assessment was carried out for the royal and VIP executive committee (Ravec). They said: 'It's now a formality. Sources at the Home Office have indicated that security is now nailed on for Harry.'
[...]
A female stalker, who had previously made threats online, was able to access a secure zone there. Harry was said to have felt 'abandoned' two days later when – without police protection – the same woman got within 'a stone's throw' of him at another engagement and attempted to approach him.
[...]
According to sources, risk management board members have now decided that the duke does meet the threshold for protection – leaving Ravec with little choice but to approve his request.

Prince Harry will be given guards for UK visits, insiders claim

A ruling in the duke's favour, expected to be announced within weeks, could allow for a reunion between King Charles and his grandchildren Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, who live in the US.

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Tatiana Maria]

For this article, the anonymous “sources close to the Sussexes” made many false claims which were disproven during the Duke’s security lawsuit.

Unfortunately, it thus seems these particular sources are untrustworthy and what they say must be taken with skepticism.


For example, the Mail reporter Charlotte Griffiths writes “Harry's last risk assessment was carried out in 2020”. Presumably the “sources” told her so, and she failed to check the facts.

That claim is false, according to High Court of Justice judge Mr Justice Lane’s factfinding in his ruling of 28 February 2024. The ruling describes how, after leaving Britain in 2020, the Duke of Sussex received bespoke risk assessments and security arrangements ahead of every visit to the UK (see e.g. paragraph 172, 60 or 104-135).


The “sources” also claim: “According to sources, risk management board members have now decided that the duke does meet the threshold for protection – leaving Ravec with little choice but to approve his request.” This statement is also false on two fronts:

First, the Risk Management Board’s job is risk assessment; the decisions about provision of protective security fall to RAVEC. Quoting the ruling:

“85. Mr Hipgrave says that one important consideration for all decisions on the protective security to be provided to Principals in RAVEC is the risk analysis which is completed for RAVEC by the RMB. The RMB provides RAVEC with expert advice in respect of the threat picture, the risks faced and any proposed mitigation of those risks. Whilst the RMB analysis forms part of RAVEC's wider evaluation of risk, ultimately, Mr Hipgrave says, the matter is for RAVEC.”​

Second, the Duke has always received taxpayer-funded police protection, even if it was downgraded from full-time to part-time. The sources themselves seem to have acknowledged his part-time police protection – as they were presumably the ones who told Charlotte Griffiths “Harry was provided with police protection for one day only on a trip to the UK that month [September 2025], for a children's charity event.”


One “source” also claims: “The only thing that could scupper his approval now would be an intervention from the Palace.”

As the judge made clear, the Palace has no power to scupper RAVEC’s decisions. When the Duke of Sussex left the UK, the households of Queen Elizabeth II and Charles Prince of Wales lobbied for him to keep his full-time police protection - but they were overruled by the government and RAVEC. See these quotes from the court judgment: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 10: August 2024 -


ETA: Charlotte Griffiths also writes: “In May last year he lost a High Court battle that would automatically reinstate police protection.” This is also false for two reasons.

In addition to the fact that the Duke never lost (part-time) police protection in the first place, his High Court lawsuit was an application for "judicial review", meaning that it challenged RAVEC’s decision-making process, rather than the decision itself. Thus, even if he had won the case, there is no guarantee that a new process would have translated into a different decision.


The ruling of Mr Justice Lane:

The Duke of Sussex, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 418 (Admin) (28 February 2024)

Given the many false claims made by these particular anonymous “sources close to the Sussexes” regarding the Duke’s security, it is difficult to trust anything else they have to say on the subject.

That Charlotte Griffiths did not factcheck those claims also reduces her credibility as a reporter.

 

[TLLK]

For this article, the anonymous “sources close to the Sussexes” made many false claims which were disproven during the Duke’s security lawsuit.

Unfortunately, it thus seems these particular sources are untrustworthy and what they say must be taken with skepticism.


For example, the Mail reporter Charlotte Griffiths writes “Harry's last risk assessment was carried out in 2020”. Presumably the “sources” told her so, and she failed to check the facts.

That claim is false, according to High Court of Justice judge Mr Justice Lane’s factfinding in his ruling of 28 February 2024. The ruling describes how, after leaving Britain in 2020, the Duke of Sussex received bespoke risk assessments and security arrangements ahead of every visit to the UK (see e.g. paragraph 172, 60 or 104-135).


The “sources” also claim: “According to sources, risk management board members have now decided that the duke does meet the threshold for protection – leaving Ravec with little choice but to approve his request.” This statement is also false on two fronts:

First, the Risk Management Board’s job is risk assessment; the decisions about provision of protective security fall to RAVEC. Quoting the ruling:

“85. Mr Hipgrave says that one important consideration for all decisions on the protective security to be provided to Principals in RAVEC is the risk analysis which is completed for RAVEC by the RMB. The RMB provides RAVEC with expert advice in respect of the threat picture, the risks faced and any proposed mitigation of those risks. Whilst the RMB analysis forms part of RAVEC's wider evaluation of risk, ultimately, Mr Hipgrave says, the matter is for RAVEC.”​

Second, the Duke has always received taxpayer-funded police protection, even if it was downgraded from full-time to part-time. The sources themselves seem to have acknowledged his part-time police protection – as they were presumably the ones who told Charlotte Griffiths “Harry was provided with police protection for one day only on a trip to the UK that month [September 2025], for a children's charity event.”


One “source” also claims: “The only thing that could scupper his approval now would be an intervention from the Palace.”

As the judge made clear, the Palace has no power to scupper RAVEC’s decisions. When the Duke of Sussex left the UK, the households of Queen Elizabeth II and Charles Prince of Wales lobbied for him to keep his full-time police protection - but they were overruled by the government and RAVEC. See these quotes from the court judgment: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex and Family, News and Events 10: August 2024 -


The ruling of Mr Justice Lane:

The Duke of Sussex, R (On the Application Of) v Secretary of State for the Home Department [2024] EWHC 418 (Admin) (28 February 2024)

Given the many false claims made by these particular anonymous “sources close to the Sussexes” regarding the Duke’s security, it is difficult to trust anything else they have to say on the subject.

That Charlotte Griffiths did not factcheck those claims also reduces her credibility as a reporter.

Thank you for pointing out the false claims in this article.

 

[tommy100]

Well, I suspect she was fed lines by whoever these "sources" are.

I don't think there is anyone who thinks harry shouldn't have whatever the Police and security services think he should have. I'm still intrigued by the idea of him getting an "annual security review is better than one for each visit. I suppose the upside is it might mean he doesn't have to give 28 days notice before any visit if he wants security, but less reviews doesn't ever seem better to me.

 

[HRHHermione]

This feels a bit like a “strategic” leak attempting to influence the outcome of the decision, which I think shows poor judgement on the part of whoever made that choice.

I agree with tommy100 that everyone wants Harry and his family to have the security arrangements that security professionals working on behalf of the government believe they need. Harry often seems to think he needs more than these professionals believe though.

 

[Hallo girl]

I find it interesting that they are saying that any refusal is down to the palace as it has been agreed by the Home Office.
Games being played here.

 

[Lord-of-the-Manor]

Any refusal is down to the king. Reminds me of "an establishment stitch up" he told the BBC.

 

[tommy100]

I find it interesting that they are saying that any refusal is down to the palace as it has been agreed by the Home Office.
Games being played here.

That is striking, and almost certainly not true. In fact there is documented evidence that the Palace asked for all consideration to be given to the provision of security by the police.
Could well be the Sussex side trying to box everyone in to a corner - making out if the security isn't granted it will be blamed on Charles and the "men in grey suits"

 

[Hallo girl]

That is striking, and almost certainly not true. In fact there is documented evidence that the Palace asked for all consideration to be given to the provision of security by the police.
Could well be the Sussex side trying to box everyone in to a corner - making out if the security isn't granted it will be blamed on Charles and the "men in grey suits"

I now wonder if this is all a game to establish IPP status, all the nonsense about wanting to bring the children, there is no way The King would not have ensured the children were protected when they were here. This is all a game to obtain IPP status then we will never see the kids, well maybe once, then that will be it. All the nonsense about Archie attending school here, come on, let us be real here, we are being played.

 

[Lord-of-the-Manor]

Sometimes I think Harry wants a major incident in order to justify his obsession over security. I think this has as much to do with his status as with his protection. In his mind, his importance demands 24/7 security.

 

[HRHHermione]

I can’t help but think that competent, professional PR advisors would have advised against this, but of course, the Sussex team have lost theirs recently.

 

[Kaye1850]

Sometimes I think Harry wants a major incident in order to justify his obsession over security. I think this has as much to do with his status as with his protection. In his mind, his importance demands 24/7 security.

Yes, I think this thought process has already led to a “near catastrophic” New York car chase in 2023. Don’t their motorcades often entail four vehicles?

 

[TLLK]

Yes, I think this thought process has already led to a “near catastrophic” New York car chase in 2023. Don’t their motorcades often entail four vehicles?

If not more...as I recall in 2023, they had a convoy of seven vehicles to go 1.5 blocks in NYC.

 

[Diarist]

I now wonder if this is all a game to establish IPP status, all the nonsense about wanting to bring the children, there is no way The King would not have ensured the children were protected when they were here. This is all a game to obtain IPP status then we will never see the kids, well maybe once, then that will be it. All the nonsense about Archie attending school here, come on, let us be real here, we are being played.

I am sure you are correct. This is not about wanting to bring the children to London, it's about getting his security permanently paid for.

The cost of security at their Montecito home must be enormous and then there is Harry's protection when he goes off to play polo - or even when he goes surfing or out for his runs... And Meghan and Harry are apparently planning a couple of 'faux-royal tours' abroad. Meanwhile, their expensive and indulgent lifestyle must be costing them hundreds of dollars - Meghan's 'statement jewellery' she was wearing in her latest lifestyle shows 'cost a fortune' according to the Sunday Times. Meanwhile, I don't think that the couple is earning anything like they were - no more Netflix millions at the moment, and even if 'As Ever' proves wildly successful, it cannot be making much money at the moment - the early years of a business, even a very successful onem- don't turn much of a profit .....

I suppose Harry, never intellectually overburdened at the best of times, feels that the children are a useful 'bargaining tool'. I doubt it - if Meghan and Harry bring the children to London, of course Charles will ensure their safety whilst they are here, but I don't think that this can be translated into covering the cost of their security when they leave for home.

And another thing; even if somehow Harry manages to wrap the traditionally weak Charles 'round his little finger' as the saying goes, he is reckoning without William.

And if I were Harry, I would tread very carefully and do my best not to annoy the Royal Family. Andrew M-B should clearly demonstrate that you can only push the Royals so far ....

 

[Hallo girl]

I am sure you are correct. This is not about wanting to bring the children to London, it's about getting his security permanently paid for.

The cost of security at their Montecito home must be enormous and then there is Harry's protection when he goes off to play polo - or even when he goes surfing or out for his runs... And Meghan and Harry are apparently planning a couple of 'faux-royal tours' abroad. Meanwhile, their expensive and indulgent lifestyle must be costing them hundreds of dollars - Meghan's 'statement jewellery' she was wearing in her latest lifestyle shows 'cost a fortune' according to the Sunday Times. Meanwhile, I don't think that the couple is earning anything like they were - no more Netflix millions at the moment, and even if 'As Ever' proves wildly successful, it cannot be making much money at the moment - the early years of a business, even a very successful onem- don't turn much of a profit .....

I suppose Harry, never intellectually overburdened at the best of times, feels that the children are a useful 'bargaining tool'. I doubt it - if Meghan and Harry bring the children to London, of course Charles will ensure their safety whilst they are here, but I don't think that this can be translated into covering the cost of their security when they leave for home.

And another thing; even if somehow Harry manages to wrap the traditionally weak Charles 'round his little finger' as the saying goes, he is reckoning without William.

And if I were Harry, I would tread very carefully and do my best not to annoy the Royal Family. Andrew M-B should clearly demonstrate that you can only push the Royals so far ....

If I could put an add on, if this is correct that the Sussex team have leaked to a journalist that the review is in their favour but not yet been to RAVEC, then once again Harry is showing he cannot be trusted with confidential information.
There is no way that information should be in the public domain until all relevant parties have been made aware and the decision verified.
The journalist is saying RAVEC has no option but to agree, and if it is refused it is due to palace interference.
Harry cannot be trusted, or maybe they are testing the water for public reaction.
I personally do not have a problem with protection when they visit the UK, but he will want more.

 

[Mirabel]

I imagine taxpayers will be livid if Harry gets his way.
And why, suddenly, a stalker? She just popped up now?

 

[TLLK]

If I could put an add on, if this is correct that the Sussex team have leaked to a journalist that the review is in their favour but not yet been to RAVEC, then once again Harry is showing he cannot be trusted with confidential information.
There is no way that information should be in the public domain until all relevant parties have been made aware and the decision verified.
The journalist is saying RAVEC has no option but to agree, and if it is refused it is due to palace interference.
Harry cannot be trusted, or maybe they are testing the water for public reaction.
I personally do not have a problem with protection when they visit the UK, but he will want more.

Hallo girl-Yes he definitely has a history of with revealing sensitive and confidential ie private family conversations etc.. information to the press. I agree that all of this information should not be revealed by anyone in the Government, Met Police or the Sussexes until all points were agreed upon.
Like you, I believe that Harry and his family should receive an appropriate level of security based upon the most recent security assessment when they're in the UK. However, the British taxpayer shouldn't have to fund anything beyond that.

 

[Diarist]

I imagine taxpayers will be livid if Harry gets his way.
And why, suddenly, a stalker? She just popped up now?

Very convenient indeed for Harry and Meghan for the stalker to have appeared at this time.....reminds me of the all-too-convenient New York car chase...

 

[Ghost]

And the incident with Lady Susan Hussey. Same plot.

 

[ladongas]

Whether he is close with his birth family or not, Harry is still quite close to the throne. If anything were to happen to him or his family (G-d forbid), it would be both shocking and horrific.

And many people - who enjoy complete anonymity- do say horrible things about the Sussex couple.

Surely there’s no one who would minimize the effects of a major attack on the son of a king.

 

[muriel]

Whether he is close with his birth family or not, Harry is still quite close to the throne. If anything were to happen to him or his family (G-d forbid), it would be both shocking and horrific.

And many people - who enjoy complete anonymity- do say horrible things about the Sussex couple.

Surely there’s no one who would minimize the effects of a major attack on the son of a king.

And security should have been a big consideration before Harry hastily announced his departure from the firm on his website, prior to securing his security from HM's government.

 

[ladongas]

And security should have been a big consideration before Harry hastily announced his departure from the firm on his website, prior to securing his security from HM's government.

People are fond of disparaging Harry’s intelligence, so perhaps it never occurred to him that his safety would become a debatable issue. But the ‘grey men’ and others who keep the BRF organized and safe might have realized that the safety of the Sussex family was an issue that needed to be resolved.

 

[TLLK]

People are fond of disparaging Harry’s intelligence, so perhaps it never occurred to him that his safety would become a debatable issue. But the ‘grey men’ and others who keep the BRF organized and safe might have realized that the safety of the Sussex family was an issue that needed to be resolved.

However what could those grey men do if the Sussexes still insisted on leaving senior royal duties? After all, these are middle aged adults, not minor children.
The late QEII gave them one year to reconsider and they chose to stay in CA.
The British taxpayer is already funding their security when they are in the UK. That is extremely generous considering that they don't perform any engagements on behalf of the monarch and UK.

 

[taogg]

People are fond of disparaging Harry’s intelligence, so perhaps it never occurred to him that his safety would become a debatable issue. But the ‘grey men’ and others who keep the BRF organized and safe might have realized that the safety of the Sussex family was an issue that needed to be resolved.

When Harry chose to step down, he should have anticipated these consequences. Security arrangements are tied to role, not lineage. Yes, he is the son of the King, but the government has clearly taken the view that bloodline alone does not justify publicly funded protection overseas. While I am not a UK taxpayer, the security framework offered by the UK government appears generous when viewed against historical precedent, including the Duke of Windsor (if I am not mistaken).

Now that the court case is closed, the reality is straightforward. If security in the US is too expensive, then lifestyle adjustments are the obvious solution. Downsizing the property, for example, would likely reduce security costs significantly. Temporary financial restraint is not unreasonable, particularly before his wife’s business becomes genuinely profitable.

I don’t think anyone genuinely believes Harry lacks intelligence. You don’t need to be a genius to have good judgment or to adapt to a new environment. Some patience was understandable at first, given that this was his first time in over 30 years living outside the protection of the Royal Family. But 6 years have passed, and by now, adapting to a different lifestyle and financial reality is a reasonable expectation.

 

[ladyjolene]

When Harry chose to step down, he should have anticipated these consequences.

I don't think Harry or Meghan think about the 'follow-through' with anything they do.

 

[taogg]

I don't think Harry or Meghan think about the 'follow-through' with anything they do.

That’s exactly what I thought too. I was flabbergasted that they didn’t consider it. Even though the government agreed to provide security overseas, that doesn’t mean it will continue indefinitely. Anyone can lose everything overnight. When children leave their parents and start living independently, they have to plan their expenses. You can’t fulfill all of your demands, all of the time, all of the places, all of the people. That is exactly what adaptation and growing up mean.

 

[Hallo girl]

People are fond of disparaging Harry’s intelligence, so perhaps it never occurred to him that his safety would become a debatable issue. But the ‘grey men’ and others who keep the BRF organized and safe might have realized that the safety of the Sussex family was an issue that needed to be resolved.

Discussions had been going on behind the scenes for some time with regards how it would work, the couple appeared to have lost patience that things were not moving quick enough, their solution was to give the family very very short notice that they were going public.

Harry and Meghan seemed to think they just made demands and it would be done, what did he say what Meghan wants Meghan gets,

They then issued a statement with a website all set up ready to go, stating what they expected. I think I am correct in saying they included continued security at the taxpayers expense in this statement/ website.

It was always going to be complex but they appear to think that they make demands and everybody will bow to them.

As I said before I do not have a problem with security when they are here, considering they do not do anything for this country other than run it , the RF and the citizens down I think I am being very reasonable.