PRINCE Harry and Meghan Markle will be protected by a royal guard when they return to the UK for the Jubilee celebrations, it’s reported.
The Sussexes and their children Archie and Lilibet have been given “cast iron assurances” they’ll be assigned specially-trained police officers when they touch down in the UK this week.
They’ll be joined on the flight by their own security detail – but from the moment they set foot on British soil, they’ll be taken care of by the Met Police, the Mirror reports.
It’s understood the force’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit have spent weeks liaising with the prince’s team.
Taxpayer-funded officers have been guaranteed to the family throughout their stay, sources told the publication.
It comes after the Duke of Sussex launched legal action against the UK Government following a Home Office decision to strip him of police protection.
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The 37-year-old’s lawyers told the High Court he had been “unable to return home” as he fears it is too dangerous.
He has offered to pay the Met – but was turned down and reportedly told officers aren’t “guns for hire”.
However, it’s claimed he always wanted to return to the country to mark the Jubilee with his family in the UK.
The Sussexes are guarded around the clock by a team which apparently includes 12 former special forces personnel.
One of their recent hires is Michael Jackson’s ex-bodyguard, Alberto Alvarez.
Unlike officers from the Met, Alvarez is not allowed to carry weapons in the UK, and he and his team will also not be given intelligence from the security services.
A source close to the Sussex camp told the paper: “For Harry, this has always been about protecting his family.
“He has been in constant contact with the relevant parties and made it very clear that he wouldn’t travel without receiving cast iron assurances over the safety of his family.”
Robert Palmer QC, for the Home Office, told The Times Harry was always likely to be given high-level police protection when in the UK.
He has been awarded “a form of exceptional status,” which means he would be considered for personal protection in certain circumstances.
ROYAL REASSURANCE
Harry and Meghan were last in the UK in April, when they made a private visit to the Queen and Prince Charles ahead of the Invictus Games in The Netherlands.
It’s understood Her Majesty has cleared space in her diary to celebrate Lilibet’s first birthday on Saturday.
It will be the first time she has met her great-granddaughter face-to-face.
The source said claims the Sussexes would “cause a scene or detract from the Queen’s celebrations” are “nonsense”.
And it’s understood they plan to “charm” the monarch after pledging to avoid the limelight during their stay.
They will spend their visit at their former home, Frogmore Cottage.
PRINCE CHARMING
Royal insiders believe the Sussexes, who have a £13million mansion in California, plan to return to Windsor more frequently after they signed another 12-month lease for the property.
They will attend the St Paul’s thanksgiving service on Friday and potentially the Jubilee pageant on Sunday.
However, they will not stand beside the Queen and other senior royals on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on Thursday.
Prince Andrew has also been banned from attending.
Netflix cameramen recording the pair for their new Keeping Up With The Kardashians-style reality TV show will be told to “move on” if they’re spotted during celebrations, it’s claimed.
A team of palace “minders” has been tasked to stop any moves by filmmakers to “exploit” the streaming giant’s £112m deal with the Sussexes.
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Meanwhile, a new poll suggests the couple’s popularity in the UK is at a record low.
Some 63 per cent of those quizzed hold a negative view of the pair, and Palace sources say there is some “nervousness” about their visit.
