For Prince Harry, security has long been the line he says he cannot cross when it comes to returning home with his family. Since stepping back from his role as a working royal in 2020, the Duke of Sussex has repeatedly expressed fear and frustration about losing his official, armed, full-time protection in the U.K. The decision stripped him of the taxpayer-funded security he once received, and Harry has argued ever since that it fundamentally changed what he can safely do as a husband and father.
Harry has made it clear that, without adequate protection, he does not feel safe bringing Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, back to the country of his birth. In interviews and court filings, he has insisted the risk is not theoretical. His concerns were reinforced in October 2025, when it emerged that a female stalker had come within feet of him on multiple occasions during a charity visit to the U.K. The incident underscored his belief that his profile and history still make him a target, even though his official role has changed.
The Duke has said this security gap has effectively kept his children, who are being raised in California, from developing a real connection with their British family. That includes time with King Charles, whom Harry has said he would like to see more of, but not at the expense of his family’s safety. After losing an appeal over the issue in May 2025, Harry suggested in a BBC interview that the situation left him feeling stuck, unable to move forward or reconcile certain parts of his life.
For years, Harry’s position has remained the same. Without adequate security, the U.K. does not feel like a place he can freely return to with the people he loves most. However, for the first time in years, a glimmer of hope has emerged, and it would seem a reunion might be imminent.
Behind the scenes, however, that long fight may finally be shifting. According to sources who spoke to PEOPLE, there are now “positive” conversations taking place within government circles about reinstating Prince Harry’s official security when he visits the U.K. Insiders say there is cautious optimism that the decision could soon be reversed.
The change in tone follows a full-scale security review granted in December 2025, after years of campaigning by the Duke. That review involved a formal risk assessment conducted by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec). The committee includes representatives from the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police, and the royal household. Its role is to decide who qualifies for state-funded protection. On Jan. 3, 2026, The Daily Mail reported that the review concluded Harry meets the criteria for top-level security. A source close to the Duke was quoted as saying:
“It’s now a formality. Sources at the Home Office have indicated that security is nailed on for Harry.”
Harry has not commented publicly on the latest developments. His spokesperson declined to discuss security matters, while a government representative reiterated that protective arrangements are handled with strict confidentiality. Still, the renewed discussions mark a significant turn after years of legal losses and frustration. If the decision goes through, it could open the door for Harry to bring Archie and Lilibet to the U.K. at last, potentially allowing for family reunions that have so far remained out of reach.
What can you say about Prince Harry possibly having to regain his security detail in the United Kingdom? Do you think Prince Archie and Lilibet to finally visit King Charles? Let us know, and pass this on to your family, friends, and other British Royal Family fans out there!
