Met Police Provided Security for Prince Harry’s London Visit Despite Court Loss on Protection

London — The Metropolitan Police voluntarily provided personal security to Prince Harry during his London visit for the WellChild Awards, according to sources familiar with the matter. The security was arranged despite Harry’s May legal loss over whether he would continue to receive taxpayer-funded protection after stepping back as a working royal.

Officials said the decision was made without involvement from the Home Office or the Royal Family, and was based on the highly publicized nature of the event and the presence of many children. The Duke, 41, traveled from his Montecito, California home with wife Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet, and was offered protection for the day of the ceremony only; he was said to have had to fund his own security for the remainder of his visit.

A source told The Mail on Sunday that police had "taken it upon themselves to arrange security for him on the first day of his visit to the UK" and that the effort included scoping the venue, checking the building, providing outside protection and crowd control. The decision was described as driven by the event’s profile and the expectation of large crowds, rather than any formal security agreement.

Harry’s legal challenge, pursued in May, argued that concerns about safety had prevented him from returning to Britain with his children and that a change in his royal status did not reduce the risk he faced; he ultimately lost the appeal. A security committee known as RAVEC, which authorizes protection for senior royals on behalf of the Home Office, will continue to assess his needs on a case-by-case basis for infrequent visits to the UK.

Supporters of the prince said the protection for the WellChild Awards did not go far enough, and that Harry hoped for more robust security in future engagements. The Duke attended the ceremony at the Royal Lancaster Hotel and later spent about 50 minutes having tea with King Charles at Clarence House, their first face-to-face meeting in 18 months, a meeting that raised hopes of a rapprochement within the family.

The Mail on Sunday has previously reported that the King and other senior royals have been invited to Harry’s Invictus Games when it is held in Birmingham in 2027. A source said Harry hoped to share a stage with his father and family at Invictus, but security remains a sticking point. "Harry really hopes that the boss of RAVEC will review his security," the source added, but cautioned that there had been no real movement on the issue. "The fact Harry met with his father sadly changed nothing."

The Metropolitan Police declined to comment on security matters. Prince Harry was approached for comment.