In the aftermath of stepping down from royal duties and moving to the United States, Prince Harry’s security drama has had a significant impact on his life. He previously revealed that his father, King Charles, wouldn’t speak to him “because of this security stuff.” He made the comment during a BBC interview after he lost his appeal in a years-long battle over his security arrangements in the United Kingdom. Then, just a few months later, a known stalker reportedly managed to get close to him during a trip to the U.K.
The stalker got close to Prince Harry two separate times during his trip.
According to a recent report from The Telegraph, a woman who has followed Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, in the past “came within feet” of Prince Harry twice during his September trip to the U.K. The first incident occurred on September 9, when the woman somehow managed to get into a “secure zone” at the London hotel hosting the WellChild Awards, which Harry was attending. Then, just a couple days later, she got close to Harry at the Centre for Blast Injury Studies in London.
The publication noted that the stalker has reportedly followed Harry and Meghan to different locations around the world, including Nigeria.
Harry’s private staff intervened.
In 2020, Prince Harry and his family lost their automatic taxpayer-funded security in the U.K. When he lost his appeal in May, he told BBC that the security issues impact him “every single day” and make him feel as though it’s not safe to return to the U.K. Reacting to the decision, he said, “I’m devastated — not so much as devastated with the loss that I am about the people behind the decision, feeling as though this is okay. Is it a win for them? I’m sure there are some people out there, probably most likely the people that wish me harm, [who] consider this a huge win.”
Now, the level of security provided to Harry is determined on “a case-by-case basis,” per Town & Country. This appeared to be a challenge during his recent visit. Although his team was able to handle the situation with the stalker, it raised concerns about the risks Harry faces without security protections.
According to The Telegraph, someone on Harry’s team recognized the stalker and “body-blocked” her. However, a source told the publication that Harry shouldn’t have to rely on “two office staff to act as extra eyes and ears” for protection.
These kinds of incidents are ‘not uncommon.’
A security source told People that Prince Harry’s near-encounter with the stalker is nothing out of the ordinary. But the situation affects Harry in a different way since he doesn’t enjoy the same security arrangements that his family has.
“It differs, however, because there was no police presence or close protection — it was left to two staffers from his private office to intervene,” the source said. “This time, they got lucky, recognizing the fixated individual. Relying on luck is not a long-term fix.”
