Government ministers will play no part in determining whether Prince Harry receives state-funded armed police protection during visits to Britain, according to reports.
It comes as the Home Office-run royal and VIP security committee, Ravec, has begun a new evaluation of the Duke of Sussex’s security risk.
A conclusion is due next month, ahead of Harry’s planned visit to Britain in February, when he is expected to testify in his case against Associated Newspapers.
The reassessment follows a letter he sent to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood in September requesting an updated review of the threats he faces.
Government ministers set to play no role in Prince Harry security review
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The decision is understood to rest entirely with Ravec’s independent chair, who holds sole authority over both the risk assessment process and the final ruling on restoring the Duke of Sussex’s security arrangements.
No ministerial involvement will occur at any stage of the evaluation, the Times has claimed.
The committee grants protection to senior members of the Royal Family on the Home Office’s behalf, yet the chair operates independently of Government ministers when reaching conclusions about who qualifies for such arrangements.
Ravec brings together security specialists from three key bodies: the Home Office, the Metropolitan Police, and the royal household.
Harry launched legal action against the Home Office following a 2020 decision by Ravec over his security in the UK | PA
These officials collaborate to provide guidance to the independent chair, who then determines both eligibility for protection and the appropriate level of security.
Although the Home Office bears legal responsibility for the committee’s decisions, this does not translate into ministerial control over outcomes.
The department successfully defended its position when the duke lost his legal challenge in May.
Following that High Court ruling, the Home Office expressed satisfaction that judges had upheld what it termed “the government’s position in this case”.
Former Home Secretary Yvette Cooper is now serving as Foreign Secretary
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The duke’s most recent threat assessment dates back to 2019, leaving a gap of more than five years without a formal review.
Harry has previously urged Ravec to adhere to its own protocols, which stipulate that risk-management evaluations should take place annually for Royal Family members and other qualifying VIPs.
The duke went further still, appealing directly to the Prime Minister to become involved in the matter.
Since stepping back from official royal duties nearly six years ago, Harry has made only limited trips back to Britain.
Prince Harry speaking to the BBC after his police security in the UK was downgraded | BBC
His security status has remained a point of contention throughout this period.
When the duke lost his High Court battle in May, he offered a blunt assessment of the outcome, describing the security decision as “a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up”.
A Government spokesman responded to questions from The Times by defending the current system. The spokesman said: “The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.”
Officials declined to elaborate on specific arrangements, citing longstanding policy against disclosing such details: “Doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”
The Home Office maintains that existing protocols serve their intended purpose, despite the duke’s public criticism of the process.