The Duchess of Sussex’s bodyguard has announced her resignation after six months on the job according to news reports in The Times.
According to a report in The Times, the unnamed bodyguard was Harry and Meghan’s chief protection officer and is leaving both her post in the royal household and within Scotland Yard. The news comes after the departure of Meghan’s personal assistant, Melissa, late last year.
The Times points out that there’s no reason to suggest a personality clash as the reason why the bodyguard is leaving but posits that Meghan’s desire to be more accessible to the public than security would traditionally allow could have been an issue.
A Scotland Yard source told The Times that, “Unlike someone who has grown up in the Royal Family and has been used to having close protection from an early age, it can be quite constraining.
“Even though she was a famous actress, she could still do what she wanted in the way of getting around freely. But in her current role, she can’t go anywhere without her protection team, and that’s a massive constraining force on an individual like her.”
Meghan’s bodyguard was not named in The Times for security reasons, though she accompanied Meghan throughout her tour of Australia, Fiji, Tonga and New Zealand last October.
The bodyguard was rumoured to be helping Harry and Meghan with security plans for Frogmore Cottage, which they plan to move into before their baby is born in the spring.
Royal security is provided through the Royalty and Specialist Protection branch of London’s Metropolitan Police. Both Camilla and Kate have female protection officers on their staff, and Meghan, a champion of women, will likely have another female protection officer as well.
“As these officers are by their principal’s side 24 hours a day, it is always preferential to have a woman on the team,” said the source.
