Decision by Royal Family that ‘stunned’ Prince Harry

The Duke of Sussex has said on US television that when he stopped being a working royal there was once decision by The Firm that floored him.

Prince Harry on Good Morning America. Picture: ABC USA.

Prince Harry has said he was “stunned” when his security was taken away by the Royal Family after he and wife Meghan stepped down from their official duties.

The Duke of Sussex talked about his reaction on US breakfast show Good Morning America, one of a slew of interviews he has done to publicise his newly released book Spare.

The prince has long had a bug bear about who pays for his security. When he and wife Meghan Markle stepped away from their royal duties in 2020, the British taxpayer stopped funding their protection costs.

Initially the then Prince Charles, through the Duchy of Cornwall, helped with the costs but the couple now have to fund the up to $4.3 million annual bill themselves. Their Netflix deal alone is said to be worth $87 million.

Prince Harry on Good Morning America. Picture: ABC USA.

Good Morning America Host Michael Strahan put it to the duke that his initial plan to be a part time royal was never going to fly with some people.

“They’re going to say you’re either in or get out.”

“I can’t ever get out,” replied Harry.

“I’m incredibly aware of my position. But here’s no version of me being able to get out of this.

“I was stunned that my family would allow security to be taken away, especially at the most vulnerable point for us,” he said.

Strahan asked whether the Royal Family “didn’t concern themselves” about the Sussex’s security of “didn’t care”?

“I think probably a little bit of both,” he replied.

Good Morning America host Michael Strahan. Picture: ABC USA.

The prince said the Royal Family “would not compromise” when it came to his future role, duties and security arrangements.

“Which was pretty sad because I still, to this day, believe that this was entirely possible”.

Harry also launched legal action against the UK Government when it said it wouldn’t allow him to pay for police protection when in Britain.

The duke said his US security detail wouldn’t have the same jurisdiction the UK or the same intelligence of threats and as such that could leave his family vulnerable on home soil.

In July, he was granted permission to bring a court challenge against the British Home Office’s decision.

Prince Harry said he was “stunned” by the removal of his security. Picture: ABC USA.

In the same interview, the prince also said he could not see a way for him and his family to return to the UK as working royals. It would be “unsurvivable,” he said.

“Even if there was an agreement or an arrangement with me and my family, there is a third party that is going to do everything they can to make sure that isn’t impossible. Not stopping us from necessarily going back, but making it unsurvivable,” he said, in an apparent reference to the British press.

“That’s really sad because that is essentially breaking the relationship between us [the Sussexes and the Royal Family].

Originally published as Decision by Royal Family that ‘stunned’ Prince Harry