Prince Harry's life cannot be 'regulated' by royal protections officers, police chief says

Prince Harry's life cannot be 'regulated' by royal protections officers, police chief says


As third in line to the throne the Prince is one of the best protected members of the Royal Family and has at least two armed officers from the Metropolitan Police’s elite SO14 unit providing round the clock security.

Yesterday, there were questions about whether they should have done more to prevent the compromising photographs being taken.

But while the security detail will keep a close watch on the Prince’s activities and vet anyone he is in contact with, experts insist it is beyond their powers to provide a moral compass for the 27-year-old army captain.

Speaking about the incident yesterday (Wed), Bernard Hogan-Howe, the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said it was not the job of the royal protection officers to oversee the Prince’s behaviour.

He said: “Royal protection officers are there to protect him for security reasons they are not there to regulate his life.”

But the fact members of the Prince’s entourage were able to take such embarrassing photographs will raise concern that he could have been targeted by blackmailers.

The former head of royal protection for the Metropolitan Police, Dai Davies, said there came a point when the Prince had to take some responsibility for his own security.

Mr Davies said: “The role of a royal protection officer is to protect, and that should cover all aspects of someone’s life. But the Prince is third in line to the throne, just two weeks ago he was representing the Queen and I don’t think he does himself any favours when he lets his guard down like this.”

“From a security point of view I’m sure he’s particularly safe. We are paying huge amounts of money for this young man to be followed everywhere he goes by security.

“But I don't envy their [security officers'] job. It must be a nightmare at times, trying to ensure that he doesn't get into these kinds of scrapes.

"I'm told he's a lovely man and everyone forgives him for whatever he has done almost as soon as he has done it. Of course, it's a difficult job. He's a young man with lots of testosterone.

"[William and Harry] are doing jobs they don't have to but on the other hand, with the privilege of being multi-millionaires, that has to come with a degree of responsibility. There's a balance and occasionally that balance slips.

Mr Davies added: “There are people who advise him, who should put the reins on occasionally. There are situations when, as the third in line, he's got to remember that but don't expect the rest of us to pay for that.”

The bill for royal security is estimated at around £120 million a year.