Royal expert says taxpayer support would only apply under specific conditions
Meghan Markle could be granted taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK if she travels with Archie and Lilibet, according to a royal expert.
The claim was made by commentator Sarah Vine in an article for the Daily Mail, where she argued there is only one scenario in which public funding would be justified.
Vine wrote that it would be acceptable for the taxpayer to cover security costs if Meghan accompanies the children on visits to see their British relatives. She said the children deserve time with their wider family, noting that Archie is currently sixth in line to the throne and that it is wrong he and Lilibet have not met their cousins.
Outside of that situation, Vine suggested Meghan should follow the same approach as other high-profile figures and pay for private security herself. She added that Meghan can afford to do so, pointing to reported sales of nearly £27 million from her “signature fruit spread” in the US, based on figures linked to her own website.
Meanwhile, Harry is expected to return to the UK with his children if his long-running legal battle over security arrangements ends in his favour. The Duke of Sussex is awaiting a decision on his request for automatic armed police protection while in Britain.
Whether Meghan would join Harry on future visits remains unclear and continues to be the subject of speculation as the court ruling approaches.
