Prince Harry's security row is ‘all about the money' – he wants to ‘cut his own costs & try to win back status'

Scottish Sun

03-05-2025

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SOURCES claim Prince Harry's long-running battle over security is "all about the money" as he wants to cut down on bodyguard costs.
The 40-year-old yesterday lost a three-year, multimillion-pound fight after his round-the-clock royal protection was axed in the wake of Megxit.
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Prince Harry lost his appeal over the downgrading of his personal security
Credit: AFP
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The royal is reportedly splashing out millions on bodyguards
Credit: Getty
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Sources claimed the row is "all about the money" for the royal couple
Credit: AFP
The Duke of Sussex had declared "my life is at stake", bizarrely claiming to be the victim of an establishment stitch-up and said he 'can't see a world' in which he would bring his wife and kids here.
However The Sun understands that Harry wished he could win the case to cut his security costs and try and get back his status as an International Protected Person.
He spends millions on bodyguards and a source said: 'It's all about the money'.
Harry claimed stripping him of his security was a plot to force him and his wife Meghan back to Britain.
Earlier this month, the prince returned to the UK for his two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal in London.
But Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edis yesterday ruled against him in a humiliating blow.
The loss - his second unsuccessful appeal against the decision - could be the final nail in the coffin for his security row, although Harry could still take his fight to the Supreme Court.
It also means he faces paying the legal costs for both sides, which is estimated to amount to more than £1.5million.
Prince Harry's biggest bombshells:
Harry and Meghan were stripped of their round-the-clock protection when they stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
He was allowed security when he stayed at royal residences or attended royal events but had to fend for himself if he wanted to see friends in a bespoke arrangement.
Harry wanted to fund his own Met Police armed bodyguards but officials refused - with insiders insisting cops are not "guns for hire".
The Met said in its 2023 statement: 'To allow an individual to pay for protective security would create a precedent in which other wealthy individuals could argue that they too should be permitted to pay for such services.'
Page Six reported in 2023 that Meghan and Harry pay two million dollars a year on security.
Since Megxit, Meghan and Harry have unfurled a number of podcasts and TV deals.
These include the recent productions With Love, Meghan and Polo - part of a $100m Netflix deal.
Meghan also recently launched a new podcast called Female Founders after her Archetypes series on Spotify.
But their $20m podcast partnership with the music giant ended in 2023.
A Palace spokesman said of the long-running security battle: 'All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.'
It comes after Harry lashed out in a TV interview last night, despite claiming to want 'reconciliation' with his family.
The father-of-two also revealed that King Charles refuses to speak to him "because of this security stuff".
He said of yesterday's court decision: 'The other side have won in keeping me unsafe.
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Prince Harry lashed out at the royal family in an interview after the loss
Credit: BBC
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rince Harry and Meghan Markle pictured promoting their Archewell podcasts
Credit: pixel8000
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Meghan and Harry have unfurled a wave of podcasts and productions
Credit: Netflix
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Prince Harry in a trailer for his first Netflix series without Meghan Markle
Credit: Netflix
'I can't see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back at this point.'
He told the BBC that verdict was 'a good old-fashioned establishment stitch up', and blamed the Royal Household for influencing the decision to reduce his security.
Harry also chillingly suggested it would be the Firm's fault if anything happened to him or wife Meghan Markle.
The Duke was asked why the taxpayer pay for police security.
He answered: "First off, private security can only do so much, I can't go into details but most will be able to work that out.
"One of the major things is that they don't have jurisdiction in a foreign country, they don't have any jurisdiction.
"Police protection is effective protection, which is what my grandmother made very clear that we needed.
"If you know that other people that are being protected, people that have made a choice for public office, then why would you be comfortable or happy with someone in my position that has given 30 to 35 years service to his country, two tours of Afghanistan and the threats and risks to my life… I was born into this position. I was born into those risks and they've only increased over time along with my marriage to Meghan."
Referring to his incendiary memoir Spare published more than two years ago, he added: 'Of course some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. They will never forgive me for lots of things.
'There's no point in continuing to fight any more. Life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has. He won't speak to me because of this security stuff. But it would be nice to reconcile.'
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Meghan Markle seen on her Archetypes Spotify podcast
Credit: Not known, clear with picture desk
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Meghan has recently launched a new podcast called Female Founders
Credit: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex/Instagram