SCOTLAND Yard is to review the 600,000 24/7 security given to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle after their dramatic decision to step back from the Royal Family.
London Mayor Sadiq Khan said this morning their security was an “operational decision taken by the Met police”.
Currently the Duke and Duchess are protected by six full-time bodyguards, thought to be at a yearly cost of 600,000.
It is unclear what their security will be if they choose to split their time between the UK and North America, which they plan to do.
But a senior source told the Evening Standard: “Royal Protection by armed Metropolitan Police officers is mandated by the Home Office.
“Until now their official roles mean the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their son are classified as internationally protected people.
“That stays in place for now. But as the circumstances have changed there will now be a full review.
“If the Sussexes intend to live abroad, and not just carry out international official visits abroad, it will involve far more resources.
“This will have to be reviewed and signed off by the Commissioner.
“There is no guarantee it will be granted.”
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said in their surprise statement last night: After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution.
“We intend to step back as senior members of the Royal Family and work to become financially independent, while continuing to fully support Her Majesty The Queen.”
A curt statement from Buckingham Palace admitted discussions with the couple will be “complicated” and are at an “early stage”.
It is unclear how the Royals plan live financially independent, as they have said they wish to do.
At the moment they are funded by Harry’s father, Prince Charles’ estate, as well as a slice of the Sovereign Grant.
Harry is thought to have some extra money from his grandmother, the Queen, and left to him by his mother, the late Princess Diana.
The Met Police were heavily involved in the couple’s six-week holiday in Canada and North America over Christmas – as their protection services were required there too.
The resource is said to have involved more than ten officers.
Another source told the newspaper: “This is simply not practical going forward given officers working in the department have families and private lives to consider too. It is also a question of resources.”
The Sussex’s new website states that the Duke and Duchess “are classified as internationally protected people which mandates this level of security”.
A Met Police spokesman said: “We never discuss matters of security.”
HOAR has learned Harry and Meghan wish to keepFrogmore Cottage on the Windsor Estateand want their security bill paid for.
It’s also been claimed that the final straw for Harry and Meghan was the official release of a new royal portraitfeaturing The Queen, Prince Charles, Prince William and Prince George.
