Prince Harry is reportedly expected to get back his long fought for police protection team on trips to Britain in a move a royal commentator told Newsweek would be a major boost at a time when his father is still receiving treatment for cancer.
In 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex were stripped of their round-the-clock police bodyguards when they quit the palace for a new life in the U.S., and Harry has been fighting to get them back ever since.
At the time, the U.K. Home Office opted for a new arrangement in which Harry would be given police protection as decided on a case-by-case basis.
In December, the Home Office began a new threat assessment, which The Mail on Sunday reported has now been concluded. According to the newspaper, following the review by the Risk Management Board, Harry is now expected to get his police team back. The final decision, though, has not yet been taken, and Newsweek understands the duke is not taking anything for granted.
Why It Matters
If Harry gets his police bodyguards back, it may be perceived as vindication for the prince’s five-year campaign, which included two High Court lawsuits and an appeal—all of which he lost, the latter in May 2025.
Harry’s long-standing narrative has been that the palace and King Charles III himself stood in the way of him keeping his police team.
The recent decision could pave the way for him to spend more time in Britain, including with his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
What To Know
Afua Hagan, a U.K.-based royal commentator and broadcaster, told Newsweek she would welcome a Home Office U-turn: “If this is true and plays out in the way it’s been reported, then I think this is great for Harry.
“Even though we know the king is scaling back his cancer treatment, if there was ever a situation when Harry needed to come back to Britain within a few days he will know that he can do that now and do it with the right security.”
The current arrangements require Harry to give the Home Office 28 days’ notice of his schedule so it can make a decision on whether to grant a police protection team.
However, some of Harry’s trips to the U.K. have been at short notice. For example, when Charles announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer in February 2024. Harry was on a plane to the U.K. hours after the announcement, presumably accepting that he would not receive police protection during the trip.
Charles is still undergoing treatment but plans to reduce regularity in 2026, a positive sign for his health. Harry wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in September requesting the return of his police team.
That same month, a stalker who had previously made threats against the Sussexes online was able to access a secure zone at a children’s charity event, the Mail reported.
Harry seemingly was granted police protection for that engagement but not for the rest of his trip to Britain. The same women turned up at a later event and attempted to approach Harry. With no police protection, it fell to an ex-military member of the prince’s private staff to body block her, according to the newspaper.
What People Are Saying
Afua Hagan, a U.K.-based royal commentator, said: “When Harry was here before and he had that stalker who got within meters of him, it sort of proved his point. He does need the security, and I think it definitely does open the door for the kids to be in the U.K. and spend some time with that side of the family.
“I think that’s something that Harry wants, that they would want and that Meghan wants. Will we see Meghan here? I’m honestly not sure, but I think it does pave the way for that to happen now and in a way that’s safe.”
Daily Mail royal editor Rebecca English wrote in an article: “As for Harry and Meghan, while the palace likes to feign insouciance about their activities nowadays, many in royal circles are, naturally, fascinated about the seeming meltdown of their business and philanthropic concerns in the U.S.—not least because it may have a direct effect on whether they try to come back to the U.K. with their tails between their legs.
“As this paper reports today, Harry’s return is likely as his camp believe they have won the right to police protection while here. But I am told that efforts by the Sussexes’ (rapidly dwindling) PR team to suggest a father-son reconciliation is approaching, appear to be somewhat wide of the mark.”
What Happens Next
The Mail reported that a final decision could be weeks away.
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