Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has shared her views on the ongoing debate around Prince Harry’s security arrangements in the UK.
Speaking to The Telegraph, Badenoch said the Duke of Sussex’s position as the King’s son should be taken into account when decisions are made about the level of protection he requires.
“Prince Harry is the son of the King, and that means he has a very high public profile, more than most politicians who get security, and that’s just by reason of his birth,” she said.
Badenoch added that the final decision should be left to the Palace and security professionals.
“What I would expect is that between the Palace and the security experts, they make the right assessment on the kind of security he needs,” she said. “The fact is he is in this position by birth, not by choice of career, and I think there’s a common-sense position that can be found.”
Harry’s security arrangements have remained a major point of dispute since he and Meghan Markle stepped back from working royal duties and moved to the United States. As a private citizen, he is no longer automatically entitled to the same taxpayer-funded protection he received as a working member of the Royal Family.
The Duke has challenged the decision through legal action against the Home Office. He previously offered to pay for private security during visits to Britain, but the proposal did not provide his team with access to the intelligence information used by official royal protection officers.
The issue has also drawn comment from other public figures. Andy Burnham previously described Harry’s security as a “private matter.”
Recent visits to the UK have continued to fuel discussion about whether the Sussexes could spend more time in Britain. During one trip, Harry was seen visiting Highgrove and Althorp, while Meghan, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet remained out of the public eye.
