After nearly 7 years of legal battles, family estrangement, and a dangerous security gap, Prince Harry may finally be approaching an answer to his fight for taxpayer-backed protection in Britain. A fresh government review of his threat level, the first since April 2019, signals a potential shift that could unlock the door for Meghan and their 2 children to return. But another courtroom fight is colliding.
A Seven-Year Fight To Feel Safe
Prince Harry quit royal duties in January 2020 and moved to California, losing automatic taxpayer-funded police protection. He then launched repeated court bids to restore it. In May 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled against him, calling his grievance emotionally valid but legally unfounded. Now, a new threat assessment is underway, changing the tone. Yet it began with real scares.
The Stalker Encounters That Raised Alarms
During a London visit in September 2025, a woman breached security barriers twice. She hid in a bathroom at the Royal Lancaster Hotel before the WellChild Awards, then appeared again near the Centre for Blast Injury Studies. Private staff intervened, but no police protection was in place. Former counterterrorism chief Neil Basu called it a “mistake” not to reassess his threat. The price tag was already soaring.
The Real Cost Of Constant Protection
Harry has spent an estimated $5 million fighting for security he says he needs. The Home Office spent $656,324 defending against his appeals, and if he loses, he could owe more than $1.3 million. Meanwhile, he pays about $2 million yearly for private security. Compared with state-backed protection other royals receive, that still feels unequal. Money, though, is not the only pressure point.
King Charles Watches From A Distance
King Charles has said he cannot influence RAVEC, the committee deciding Harry’s fate. Still, insiders link new urgency to Charles’ cancer diagnosis last year and a desire for family closure. A private tea meeting in September 2025 was their first in 19 months. Harry told the BBC in May 2025 he didn’t know “how much longer my father has.” Could security be the hinge?
“Security is One of the Biggest Issues”
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital: “Meghan will want many assurances, especially about how she is treated and how she can bring her own individuality with her. Security is one of the biggest issues. I see encouraging signs that the heated moments of the past have cooled.” Turner suggested security could unlock reconciliation and even a 2027 Invictus role for Charles. But Meghan’s hesitation runs deeper.
Meghan’s Fear Versus Public Duty
Meghan has not been in Britain since Queen Elizabeth’s funeral in September 2022. Friends say she feels torn between supporting Harry and returning to a hostile environment. A source told Radar Online: “On previous visits, she felt the attention quickly shifted away from the purpose of her trip and toward personal criticism.” Her UK approval rating sits at 22% versus Harry’s 37%. Could a security fix change her calculation?
The Children Still Waiting On Britain
Prince Archie, 6, was born in London but left Britain before his 1st birthday. Princess Lilibet, 4, has never lived in the UK. Harry has repeatedly said he will not bring them back without proper security. “I have no idea what the RMB (risk management board) recommendation to RAVEC will be,” a source told The Times, noting the review is still underway. Their first real family trip depends on one decision.
A 30-Day Rule That Fuels The Dispute
“If Meghan were to travel under the current RAVEC protocol—which requires 30 days’ notice to assess threat levels—I am confident that both Harry and Meghan would receive armed security for an Invictus appearance,” royal expert Kinsey Schofield told Fox News Digital on January 21, 2026. She said claims Meghan will only return if RAVEC reverses “appears to be an attempt to influence” the review. Even so, Harry objects to case-by-case planning.
The Tabloid Trial That Collided With It
Harry arrived in London in January 2026 for his High Court case against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail. He alleges decades of phone hacking and unlawful information gathering. On January 21, 2026, he was cross-examined for 2 hours and became emotional describing how the press made Meghan’s life “an absolute misery.” The trial is expected to last 9 weeks. The timing creates a volatile mix of risk and exposure.
When Legal Risks Turn Into Personal Risks
Judges warned Harry and 6 co-claimants the Mail case costs are “clearly outside reasonable” territory, estimated at £38.8 million. Combined insurance covers £14.1 million, leaving major personal exposure if they lose. Still, Harry presses on. “There is obviously a personal element to bringing this claim, motivated by truth, justice and accountability, but it is not just about me,” he said in his witness statement. Yet the trial also invites fresh scrutiny.
“My Social Circles Were Not Leaky”
“My social circles were not leaky. I want to make that absolutely clear,” Harry testified in court on January 21, 2026. He described 14 articles he believes used information obtained illegally through hacking and deception. “If you complain, they double down on you, in my experience,” he added when asked why he did not object earlier. The “never complain, never explain” policy kept him quiet then. What changed first, his position or his patience?
A Royal Barrier He Already Broke
Harry made history in June 2023 by becoming the first senior royal in more than 130 years to testify in court, during his Mirror Group Newspapers case, which he won. In January 2025, he settled with Rupert Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers for substantial damages. Those wins emboldened him to pursue the Daily Mail case. But each public legal fight deepens palace unease, because royals traditionally avoid open warfare.
Invictus Games 2027 Could Reset Everything
Birmingham will host the Invictus Games in July 2027, Britain’s first time hosting since 2014. Harry founded the games and treats them as his defining mission. A source told The Sun: “Prince Harry desperately wants Charles at the Invictus Games—and he wants him to open the games alongside him.” If security is restored, it could make that appearance realistic. But will any decision arrive in time to matter?
“It’s Now a Formality” Or Just Hope?
“It’s now a formality. Sources at the Home Office have indicated that security is now nailed on for Harry,” an insider told the Mail on Sunday in January 2026. Multiple outlets reported “positive” considerations about reversing the 2020 decision. Still, another source stressed uncertainty: “I have no idea what…the RMB recommendation to RAVEC will be,” adding the review is “very much still ongoing.” Optimism sounds loud, but proof stays quiet.
Reconciliation Is Still The Wild Card
Harry told the BBC in May 2025: “I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore…I don’t know how much longer my father has.” Yet reports say he has “zero plans” to reconcile with King Charles during this January 2026 UK trip for the Mail trial. Royal expert Jennie Bond called Invictus a “white flag” opportunity. But can peace happen without both brothers in the room?
William’s Silence Still Sets The Tone
Prince William has shown no visible warmth toward Harry. Hilary Fordwich told Fox News: “Prince William blames Meghan Markle for escalating their private tensions into a highly public media circus. He has no tolerance for reconciliation.” The brothers have not spoken in years. Harry’s memoir Spare and the Netflix documentary widened the divide by airing private disputes. Even with restored security, William’s approval remains a separate obstacle. What if the state says yes but the family says no?
The Money Behind “Independent” Life
Despite setbacks, Harry’s net worth is estimated at $60 million, supported by Netflix deals, Spare, speaking fees of $500,000 to $750,000, and settlements including an NGN deal exceeding $12 million in January 2025. Meghan’s Netflix cooking show and American Riviera Orchard expansion may add more. Still, $2 million in annual security and constant legal fees drain resources. Their $14.65 million Montecito home also carries high operating costs. Security relief would change their math.
“There Was No Police Presence”
“These incidents are not uncommon for members of the Royal Family. It differs however, because there was no police presence or close protection—it was left to two staffers from his private office to intervene,” a security source told Fox News Digital on September 12, 2025. “He’s the son of the King, brother of the heir, fifth in line to the throne and one of the most famous people in the world. It feels like there is an inevitable foreboding looming over this whole issue.” Risk is not theoretical.
What Happens Once The Review Lands?
As of January 2026, the risk management board is completing its assessment. RAVEC will review it and make a formal decision, with no public timeline announced. If approved, Harry would receive automatic armed police protection during UK visits, replacing the 30-day notice process. That shift could finally allow Meghan and the children to travel more freely. With Invictus 2027 approaching, the timing could define a whole chapter. But what if the decision disappoints?
A Family’s Future Still On Hold
Nearly 7 years of separation, an estimated $5 million in legal costs, and repeated security scares have brought Harry to a pivotal moment. A new threat review could change everything, or nothing. Court wins against the media have not repaired family trust. Meghan remains wary, the children barely know Britain, and King Charles watches cautiously while William stays distant. The question is no longer only about protection, but whether safety can make reconciliation possible. The answer may arrive sooner than expected.
Sources
Risk Assessment and Decision-Making Review of Royalty and VIP Protection. Home Office, 31 July 2016
Sussex v Secretary of State for the Home Department (2025) EWCA Civ 548. Court of Appeal Judgment, May 2025
Prince Harry testifies against Associated Newspapers Limited. Sky News, 21 January 2026