The Duke and Duchess of Sussex view the daily school run as their primary security risk following their return to the UK, it has been reported.
The couple returned to Britain late last month alongside their two children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5.
Their move back to the UK follows six years spent living in California after stepping down as senior working royals in 2020.
The family has since settled into a private home in the Cotswolds.
open image in galleryWhile the Sussexes’ children are expected to start at a British prep school this month, the family is still waiting for the Home Office to clarify whether they will receive taxpayer-funded police protection during their stay, according to The Telegraph.
State-funded protection remains a contentious issue in the UK, where private security is legally prohibited from carrying firearms.
The security debate has continued to simmer following the couple’s explosive 2021 Oprah Winfrey interview and Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir Spare, in which his disclosure of military service details raised concerns over heightened personal risk.
Prince Harry previously waged a multi-year legal battle against the Home Office over its 2020 decision to strip his automatic police bodyguards, a challenge he ultimately lost in court.
open image in galleryHowever, the Duke was informed in July that a long-delayed fresh risk assessment had been conducted, though he has reportedly received no answers regarding its findings.
Sources told the paper that the Duke has repeatedly sent letters to the Home Secretary and the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) demanding updates.
The Sussexes reportedly fear the routine nature of school drop-offs makes them vulnerable to paparazzi, social media tracking, and potential “lone wolf” threats.
Former Metropolitan Police protection officer Scott Hamer told The Telegraph that fixed locations like schools present severe security challenges.
“With the school run, you can vary the route as much as you like, but the start and end point will almost always be the same,” Hamer said.
open image in galleryThe Sussexes have faced major threats to their security before, where security personnel in Montecito intercepted an armed intruder near the couple’s residence in May 2023.
According to documents seen by the outlet, a 40-page report by Prince Harry’s private security firm identified an “elevated risk” to the family in the UK.
In five of the six identified homegrown terror plots targeting the Duke in previous years, the plans had originated from the UK, creating what his team described as an “elevated risk” profile.
open image in galleryThe Duke reportedly informed the Home Secretary in mid-August that his family would reside in the UK for a minimum of six months.
The Home Office has maintained that Ravec does not grant automatic coverage to non-working royals. Instead, it designs bespoke security arrangements based on individual visit context and risk assessments.
The Independent has contacted the Sussexes for comment.