Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on 20 August 2026 that security arrangements for Prince Harry and Meghan as they prepare to return to the UK are a private matter, amid reports the couple are relocating their family from California.
"It's a matter for Harry and for Meghan, and we wish them well in the moves that they are making."
The remarks follow earlier reporting that Harry and Meghan intend to move back to a private UK residence this month, with their children due to begin British schooling in September, as detailed in our earlier coverage of the planned move. Burnham's comments also come months after Harry reportedly considered cancelling a UK visit when a request for taxpayer-funded police protection was refused, a dispute outlined in previous reporting on the security disagreement.
What has changed in the security dispute?
According to a national newspaper's report, the Home Office has told Harry and Meghan that it will not disclose detailed security information, citing concerns that doing so could compromise the arrangements themselves. Separate reporting from a celebrity news outlet on 20 August 2026 said the couple had been given fresh security details, while officials reiterated that decisions on protection are handled through the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC.
Why was protection denied in the first place?
The Sussexes are not entitled to taxpayer-funded protection in the UK except while inside royal residences, according to the same report. RAVEC, said to include representatives from the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police and the royal household, advises an independent chair on such decisions. The dispute traces back to June and July 2026, when Harry was reportedly denied a formal request for police protection ahead of a planned trip, prompting him to reconsider bringing Meghan and their children along, as covered in earlier coverage of the reconsidered visit.
What happens next?
Archie and Lilibet are expected to start school in Britain in September 2026, according to a report on the family's relocation timeline. The final security arrangement remains subject to RAVEC's risk-assessment process, and no public date has been set for a formal announcement of the outcome.
Key Facts
- Andy Burnham described the couple's security arrangements as a private matter.
- Harry and Meghan reportedly plan to relocate their children to the UK, with schooling due to start in September 2026.
- The Home Office says it will not disclose detailed security information, citing safety concerns.
- Protection decisions are handled through the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC).
- The Sussexes are not eligible for taxpayer-funded protection except within royal residences.
