A former royal bodyguard told us the security challenges Prince Harry and Meghan Markle could face as they walk away from the royal family
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex could face additional challenges to their security now that they're working towards financial independence from the royal family and will no longer be using their HRH titles.
That's according to former royal protection officer Simon Morgan, who says that the threat to Prince Harry and Meghan is never going to go away.
The Queen announced last week that Meghan and Harry will spend time in both the UK and Canada, which means the couple have multiple options for their security.
While Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said will be "lots of discussions" on whether taxpayers will fund the couple's security, Morgan said they could also hire an experienced private firm.
"Protection done well is a lifestyle choice," Morgan told Insider. "Not many people have experience dealing with members of the royal family."
Now that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are cutting ties with the royal family, their security detail will likely change.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex recently announced plans to step back from their senior roles in the royal family and work towards becoming financially independent.
As part of new negotiations with the Queen, the couple will no longer use their HRH titles and will completely step back from all royal duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Saturday.
However, a spokesperson for the palace said they do not plan to comment "on the details of security arrangements" for the couple.
"There are well established independent processes to determine the need for publicly-funded security," they added.
There has been debate on whether the couple should be able to continue using royal protection officers, since they are sourced by the Metropolitan Police and funded by the British taxpayer.
Alternatively, security could be provided by a private firm or potentially even the Canadian government, since the couple plan to spend some time there.
One person who knows the ins and outs of royal protection is Simon Morgan, who worked as a bodyguard to members of the royal family from 2007 until 2013.
Simon Morgan/ Trojan Consultancy, PA Images
Morgan, who now works as the Director of Operations and Training at private security firm Trojan Consultancy, says the couple could pay for private security. However, it may be challenging, not to mention expensive, to find a firm experienced enough to protect former members of the royal family.
"Not many people have experience dealing with members of the royal family"
Morgan noted that while "a royal protection officer will have up to six months training" when transitioning from the police, those in the private sector "only have to do a two-week course."
"There's a lot that goes into creating a protection officer of that level," Morgan said.
"If done correctly, it's expensive. Protection done well is a lifestyle choice. Not many people have experience dealing with members of the royal family.
Tim Ireland/ AP Photo.
"It's not as though any old private security company could work for them, they wouldn't have the experience or contacts to work at their [the royal family's] level."
Nonetheless, Morgan notes Harry and Markle wouldn't be the first non-working royals to do this. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie — who both have regular careers outside of the royal family — have private security paid for by the Duke of York.
He added that it wouldn't be an option for the couple to have no security.
"I don't believe the threat is going to go away," he said. "The threat will remain constant.
"There's a peak in people's interest in what the royal family is doing at the moment.
"In regards to political and religious terrorism, the threat remains the same [as before]. However, day-to-day threat in regards to intrusion — whether that be from ordinary people or the media — may increase."
Intrusion is something members of the royal family deal with on a regular basis. In May last year, it was announced that Prince Harry won a lawsuit against Splash News, after the agency used a helicopter to fly over the couple's home and take photos of their living room, dining room, and even their bedroom.
A man even managed to break in to the Queen's bedroom in Buckingham Palace back in 1982.
Michael Fagan scaled the palace's 14-foot high wall before entering the building through an open window in what was later described as "one of the 20th century's worst royal security breaches," according to the Express.
He then found his way to the Queen's bedroom and sat on the edge of her bed. Her Majesty, who was inside the room, was able to contact security and Fagan was ultimately arrested.
Morgan added: "I don't believe for one minute they will stop having protection, whether that be from UK or Canadian law enforcement. What that model will look like is difficult to say.
"Based on the threat and risk scenario, we have two [former] senior members of the royal family — people who are internationally recognized.
"They are very well known people, the duke is a war veteran, and you have the threat that could be somewhat heightened now. People's desire to find out what they're doing has increased, and people who wish to do them harm."
However, Canada or the UK could potentially still foot the bill
The Queen confirmed last week that Harry and Markle "will spend time in Canada and the UK." Although there are rumors the couple plan to permanently relocate, this has not been confirmed by Buckingham Palace.
In an interview with Canada's Global News broadcaster, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there will be "lots of discussions" on whether taxpayers will fund the couple's security.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
"I think most Canadians are very supportive of having royals be here, but how that looks and what kind of costs are involved, there are still lots of discussions to have," he said.
He added that "there is a general feeling of appreciation" for the couple, who had also spent the holidays in Canada instead of in Britain with the rest of the royal family.
Morgan said: "Until things get ironed out, it's difficult to say where the protection package will sit, and who will pay for it.
"There is a lot of unanswered questions. The delivery of a protection package overseas is not unusual — the UK's Prime Minister will have holidays overseas where they have protection officers deployed."
This comes as Larry Busch, a former Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer who was responsible for world leaders' and royals' security, said that the Sussex family may have to accept government security, regardless of whether they would prefer private.
"I don't believe they can refuse the government of Canada's security," Busch told Reuters.
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