The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have opted to change their children’s school due to safety concerns during the school run. They were recently provided with an assessment of the public funding supporting their security arrangements, and the decision to switch schools followed shortly after their children began attending their first school.
Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, are both back in the UK with their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The family’s return marks a shift from occasional visits to living here full-time, and it has set off renewed questions about how much public money is being used to protect them.
The Security Review
Harry and Meghan will be reassessed by Ravec, the committee responsible for royal and VIP security, which is set to look again at their level of police protection. That committee, known as the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, brings together representatives from the Home Office, the police and the Royal Household.
“The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family.”
A review is being carried out to weigh up the dangers the family now face in their new home, with a particular focus on the journeys they make, including the daily paths they travel and the trips to and from school. The Risk Management Board will examine the threats against them and determine what degree of police protection they may require, even though no conclusion has been drawn yet.
Why the School Changed
Security fears surrounding the school run prompted the Sussexes to change their children’s school. HELLO! magazine was the first to report that the children have moved from where they started earlier this month.
The person who spoke about the couple’s choice described it as an independent decision rather than a statement about the school or the quality of care the children have received there. The identities of the schools have not been made public.
The Sussexes’ private security team worried that the distance and heavy traffic on the original school run route had made it hard to keep the children safe.
A Familiar History
A previous legal challenge by Harry, which failed, concerned his police security when he was visiting from the US. That history is significant because it demonstrates the couple have already attempted to resist decisions made against them.
The family’s return to the UK alters the situation. The committee met with Ravec last week, and it appears willing to look again at any risks involved.
It is the first security review of its kind for Meghan since she and Prince Harry stepped down from their roles as working royals by relocating to the US in 2020. Harry underwent a risk assessment of his own earlier in the summer, though at the time it was not yet known that he would return to live in the UK.
What the Couple Posted
Over the weekend, Meghan shared video on social media of her family enjoying an outing in the countryside together. On Monday, Prince Harry learned that Uganda will join the roster of nations taking part in the Invictus Games next year.
There was a suggestion that Uganda might pull out of the event for wounded service personnel, following a letter sent on behalf of King Charles that stressed Prince Harry and Meghan were still regarded as non-working royals.
The King’s private secretary had spoken on the phone to Uganda’s military chief, reassuring him that he approved of Uganda’s participation in the games.
The Decision to Move
Mid-term school changes by the couple stand out. Their private security, their high-profile standing, and prior scrutiny over their protection arrangements all point to the same pattern.
The family’s situation will be examined as a whole, with particular attention to the children. the BBC’s review will consider the dangers they encounter in their new home and the kind of journeys they make.
A person close to the couple has confirmed that the parents are thankful to the teachers and staff for how they have treated the family. This expression of thanks serves as the public reason behind the choice, and it is telling that the couple elected to make it part of their statement.
What This Means for Them
Even as they attempt to settle into a quieter existence, the review stands as a reminder that their lives are still being watched closely.
The couple have made clear that the choice is not a criticism of the school. This matters, since it preserves the institution’s standing while giving the explanation for the move.
The examination will look at their travel patterns, which include habitual routes and school runs. The board will weigh the dangers faced by them and determine how much police protection they should receive.
| Party | Role in Security Process |
|---|---|
| Ravec | Reviews VIP security, including royal protection |
| Risk Management Board | Considers threats and protection levels |
| Home Office, police, Royal Household | Representatives on Ravec |
Even as they attempt to settle into a quieter existence, the review stands as a reminder that their lives are still being watched closely.
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