THE Home Office won’t back down over Harry and Meghan’s demand for police protection when they visit the UK, it has been claimed.
It comes after the Duke of Sussex has reportedly held secret talks with Prince Charles ahead of the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.
The Duke of Sussex has launched legal action against the Government over the decision to take away his police bodyguards after he stepped back from royal duties two years ago.
He is seeking round-the-clock police protection — normally reserved for royals and government officials — when he, Meghan, 40, Archie, two, and seven-month-old Lilibet visit the UK.
He’s offered to pay the bill himself – but was denied by the Government.
Harry has been told the Met Police are not “guns for hire” and cannot be treated as a private force for the rich and famous.
And now a security source told the Mail Online that the Home Office is not planning to back down.
The source said: “When Harry left The Firm the terms of his divorce were clear.
“Like other members of the public, he and his wife are not able to hire armed cops at will – no matter how much they offer to pay.”
The source said that protective security was “based on role and risk”, and the security in the US could not be replicated in the UK because, “we don’t allow people to wonder the street with guns here”, adding that “other minor Royals manage to function in normal life without armed guards. The Home Office is refusing to blink”.
The Royals are expecting Harry to return from his California home for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee in June, but it could be without Meghan, Archie and Lilibet.
Prince Harry says the family is “unable to return” because it is too dangerous after they were stripped of round-the-clock police protection.
Harry considers himself a security risk for life because he is sixth in line to the throne, and a target from extremist threats because of his two tours of combat in Afghanistan.
Meanwhile, the Queen, 95, has told Harry she will not intervene as security is a government matter.
Harry and Meghan’s security was costing taxpayers around £5million a year when they lived in Britain.
They now fund their lifestyle thanks to his multi-million-pound Netflix and Spotify deals — and Harry says he would not burden the taxpayer with his policing costs.
Government officials refused his demands fearing it would open the door to any wealthy individual to use The Met’s crack team as their private police force.
Prince Charles has reportedly invited the Sussexes to stay with him when they are next in the UK and has told Prince Harry he’d love to see his grandchildren but according to an expert Meghan is unlikely to accept the invitation as it will be “awkward.”
