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The Sussexes

Prince Harry will personally pay for Meghan Markle’s protection

According to the Evening Standard, Prince Harry has offered to personally hire and pay for a retired Scotland Yard Protection Officer to keep his girlfriend, Meghan Markle safe while she visits Harry in the UK.

A senior security source spoke to the Standard saying: “There have been initial discussions about this matter.

“HRH has made it clear that he believes Miss Markle’s personal safety is paramount and that the behaviour of some elements of the media and press has been grossly unacceptable.

“But in the end it comes down to a matter of cost, who is paying for what. Protecting the Royal Family is a hugely expensive business.”

It is well known that Prince Harry and Prince William are worried about the pressures of the paparazzi affecting their partners.

Prince Charles even hired a PPO to watch the then Camilla Parker Bowles before the couple were married.

Another source went on record: “Scotland Yard operates the Royal Diplomatic Department. It is an elite department of officers.

“It is therefore not cheap to run and like anywhere in the publicly funded sector they have been subject to stringent Government funding cuts.

“It means that even blood royal princesses, such as Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, the daughters of HRH the Duke of York, while still protected round the clock, their protection is not totally funded by the taxpayer and The Duke, their father, has to contribute to protection when they are off duty.

“Of course the mainstream Royals – The Queen, The Duke of Edinburgh, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Cambridges and Prince Harry all still get 24/7 Protection provided by Scotland Yard and SO14.”

This news comes after a statement was just released by Kensington Palace asking for the “abuse” for Miss Markle to stop.

Ken Wharfe, the former PPO of Diana, Princess of Wales is an expert on protecting the Royal Family: “It is extremely unlikely that  Scotland Yard would fund protection for Miss Markle at this stage.

“In America and Canada where she lives she is well used to the attention she gets as a star actress.

“But nothing can prepare a person, even a Hollywood actor, for the attention they get once they are associated seriously with or a member of the British Royal Family, especially if you are in the sights of the paparazzi and the tabloid press.

“The bottom line is if it is believed that Miss Markle is a serious contender to be Prince Harry’s bride then of course the reporters and photographers of the Press will do their job. That is fair enough.

“But in this day and age it does leave her a little exposed.

“Should, however, Prince Harry fund a retired, and therefore unarmed, ex S014 officer to accompany her whilst in the UK I think it would be a sensible move.

“The expertise in dealing with situations and associations with existing officers in the department and appreciation of our policing systems could prove timely, and yes, crucial.”

When Prince Harry turned 30 he received £10 million from his inheritance left by his mother. This would help him pay for the £50,000 annual salary that a retired freelance Scotland Yard Officer earns.

 

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