Prince Harry’s security demands questioned by former head of Royal protection
A former head of Royal security has questioned the need for Prince Harry says the King should steer clear of getting involved in any decision over his son’s future security arrangements.
Dai Davies told GB News the late Queen did previously intervene on security matters but that Charles would be unwise to follow suit.
Speaking about the row around Harry’s securty Dai said: : “The truth is, as we saw for the coronation, he got 100% Royal security. He even had a motorcycle escort, the SEG [Special Escort Group], back to the airport so he could catch his plane back. It’s cost you and I over £400,000 pounds so far.
“To argue the point that it’s not his decision, as much as he’d like it to be, it’s made by a committee or RAVEC [Royal and VIP Executive Committee]…they take a look at all the aspects.
“We should bear in mind that the vast majority of the British Royal Family no longer get 24 hour security, so he is no longer a working Royal and the risk assessment has decreed rightly or wrongly, and I’m not aware of all the facets that will go into that decision, that he is not going to get it, he will get it when he’s on a Royal mission.”
Asked if the King could intervene, in a discussion with Andrew Pierce and Bev Turner, he continued: “Well they would certainly listen to his point of view as they did with the late Queen, because she on one or two occasions with one or two relatives, who I won’t mention, did make a personal request. And then you would look at that in the whole.
“As far as I’m aware, His Majesty has not intervened in this case and I think it would be wrong frankly practically for him to now because he’s not a made fully aware, perhaps he is these days, I don’t know.
“But if there is a risk factor that somebody thought he should have it, or should have it while he pursues his own commercial interest, somebody should make that loud and clear. So far, they haven’t.
“It’s fair to say that he has his own protection team both in the United States and he has former members of the Royalty protection as I understand it, who currently go with him.
The truth is if you know your history as I do the number of times the royalty protection officers had to draw a gun is 0.001% on a scale, so let’s get that in perspective.”
“He’s chosen to live in LA and I work with the LA authorities, the police, and the FBI, trust me it is 100 times more dangerous even than in London.
“So he’s chosen a place to live where he does arguably require it…the gun crime there is horrendous, and yet he’s chosen to live there.
“If Princess Anne, who does more work than most of them, doesn’t get it 24/7, why on earth should he, unless there’s evidence and there’s there’s intelligence that he should have it?”
