Prince Harry and Meghan move children to new school just days into the start of term due to 'security concerns'
Prince Harry and Meghan have moved their two children to a new school just days after starting following talks with their security team.
Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Princess Lilibet, had only just started at their new school after the family moved from the US to the UK last month.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are back in the UK as non-working royals with a letter sent on behalf of the King saying they will remain ‘private citizens’.
And it seems as though they have settled right back into life in Blighty, with Meghan, who was rumoured to be making a return to acting following the move, sharing a sweet video of their first couple of weeks in the UK.
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However, it seems not everything has gone as smoothly as they’d hope.
Because just days into the first term, the Duke and Duchess have been forced to move their children to a new school.
According to Hello! magazine, the two youngsters have switched schools after heavy traffic and the lengthy journey to the school reportedly put the Sussexes’ security team under strain
A family spokesman told the magazine: “The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family’s security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements.
“The parents remain extremely grateful to all the teachers and staff for the love, care and effort they have shown their family.
“This decision should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.”
The decision to move schools comes amid reports that both the Sussexes will receive an official risk assessment following their return.
Last week, there was reportedly a meeting of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which is responsible for making decisions about royal security.
Harry, who turns 42 on Tuesday, is waiting to hear the conclusion of the Risk Management Board’s threat assessment and Ravec is expected to decide at the meeting as to whether the Sussex family should be entitled to taxpayer-funded security now they live in the UK.
If not, the family will be looking at a hefty bill.
According to security expert Will Geddes (@therealwillgeddes), the couple will be looking at stumping up around £3 million a year following their move to a non-royal residence in the Cotswolds.
Geddes told LADbible that their reported 83 acre plot in the Cotswolds will need ‘perimeter defense and protection’, which are going to be ‘massively costly’.
“The Cotswolds has turned into a bit of an enclave for the rich and famous. By direct proxy of that, it will in itself attract problems. Criminals will see opportunity, particularly for big houses that may be left unattended, that they can break in, steal stuff, that sort of thing,” he said.
“Then you’ve got even more serious gangs that will think, ‘Great, here’s an opportunity to break in whilst the occupants are there, steal their jewellery, get them to open up their safe’.”
Geddes also pointed out that the children will need security throughout the school day.
He said security drivers could handle drop-offs and collections, while officers would normally remain outside the school rather than accompany the children throughout the day.
The team would assess the school’s existing protection, identify possible weaknesses and add extra precautions where necessary. Geddes said the officers should remain discreet to avoid disrupting family life or drawing unnecessary attention at the school gates.
“During the school run, they will probably need to have at least a couple of extra close-protection officers,” Geddes said.
“It may be down to the security drivers to collect the children and to drop them off in the morning.
“The key thing is the selection of the right team to make sure that they’re low-key enough to signal that they are security, but not shove it in all the other parents’ faces, because you won’t make any friends at the school gates if she does.”
Topics: UK News, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, Royal Family
Claire Reid