Prince Harry tells BBC he wants ‘reconciliation’ with Royal Family | BBC News

Key Concepts:

• RAVC (Royal and VIP Executive Committee): The committee responsible for deciding on security arrangements for the Royal Family and other VIPs.
• R&B (Risk Management Board): A separate board that conducts risk assessments to determine the appropriate level of security for individuals.
• Royal Household: The administrative body that supports the activities of the monarch and the Royal Family.
• Official Role: Refers to being a "working royal" and carrying out duties on behalf of the monarch.
• Case-by-Case Basis: The security provided to Prince Harry when visiting the UK, which he argues is insufficient.
• Duty of Care: The responsibility to ensure the safety and well-being of individuals, particularly family members.
• Royal Prerogative: The powers and privileges held by the monarch, which can be exercised without legal constraint in certain areas.
• Truth and Reconciliation: A process aimed at acknowledging past wrongs and building a more harmonious future.

1. Legal Challenge and Security Downgrade:

• Prince Harry lost his legal challenge regarding the downgrade of his taxpayer-funded security in the UK after stepping down as a working royal in 2020.
• He argued he was treated unfairly, but the Court of Appeal rejected his appeal.
• Prince Harry states that the decision makes it "impossible" for him to bring his family back to the UK safely.
• He expresses being "gutted" by the decision, stating he wished someone had told him beforehand that he couldn't win through the courts.

2. Impact on Family and Personal Life:

• Prince Harry laments that his children, Archie and Lilibet, will miss out on experiencing their homeland.
• He says his visits to the UK have been limited to funerals, court cases, and occasional charitable functions.
• He misses the UK but feels he cannot bring his wife and children back due to safety concerns.
• He mentions that his father, King Charles, is not speaking to him due to the security situation.

3. Security Concerns and Risk Assessment:

• Prince Harry claims that in early 2020, he was assessed as the highest risk, but "overnight" his risk level was reduced to the lowest without a proper risk management board assessment.
• He questions the motive behind this change and the lack of a risk assessment in the past 5 years, while others receive them annually.
• He believes the decision to downgrade his security was influenced by the Royal Household.
• He states that the Royal Household's involvement in RAVC influences decisions regarding members of the Royal Family, despite not being experts.
• Sir Richard Mottram, the RAVC chair at the time, visited the Royal Household before abandoning a planned R&B assessment in favor of "alternative governance measures."

4. The Role of the Royal Household and RAVC:

• Prince Harry claims the Royal Household has undue influence on RAVC decisions, despite not being security experts.
• He wishes his father had stepped aside and allowed experts to make unbiased decisions.
• He alleges that the Royal Household's interference created bias in the security assessment process.
• He learned during the legal process that RAVC is not legally constrained, meaning decisions are made by "royal prerogative."

5. Taxpayer Funding and Public Perception:

• Prince Harry addresses the argument that UK taxpayers should not fund his security, as he has private security.
• He clarifies that private security lacks jurisdiction and that police protection is more effective.
• He claims the British tabloid press exaggerated the cost of his security to influence public opinion.
• He points out that RAVC protects private citizens at taxpayers' expense if they are deemed high risk, regardless of public office.
• He argues that his service to the country (35 years, including two tours in Afghanistan) and the threats he faces warrant protection.

6. Differences in Security Arrangements:

• Prince Harry cannot disclose specific security details but states that the "case-by-case basis" security is insufficient.
• He claims that the security offered depends on the reason for his visit (family invitation vs. other purposes).
• He says that the security provided is essentially "someone on the end of a phone."
• He believes he has been treated differently from others in similar situations.

7. Allegations of Punishment and Control:

• Prince Harry believes security was used as "leverage" and that the decision sets a precedent for controlling family members.
• He suggests that the Royal Household rejected his and Meghan's desire to continue in an official role, leading to the security downgrade.
• He feels that the decision implies that family members cannot live outside the institution's control if they want to be safe.

8. Family Relationships and Reconciliation:

• Prince Harry expresses sadness that the situation has become a family dispute.
• He believes the core issue is safety and the "duty of care" that has been disregarded.
• He states that his life was "devalued" from the highest to the lowest security score after leaving his official role.
• He has forgiven his family and the press for past actions but struggles to forgive the decision to put his family at risk.
• He believes the security issue is the main obstacle to repairing relations with his family.
• He desires reconciliation with his family, especially with his father, King Charles, who is ill.
• He learned about "truth and reconciliation" from the First Nations in Canada and believes truth is necessary for reconciliation.
• He doesn't believe his father would want to discuss the security issues and would likely defer to the government's decision.

9. Calls for Government Intervention and Review:

• Prince Harry calls for the Home Secretary and the government to review RAVC and its members.
• He questions the Royal Household's role in RAVC if it is meant to be an expert body.
• He asks for a new R&B assessment, which he hasn't received since 2019.
• He suggests that the Prime Minister should step in, given that RAVC is not legally constrained.

10. Historical Parallels and Concerns:

• Prince Harry expresses his desire to avoid repeating history, implying concerns about the safety of his family.
• He claims to have discovered that "some people want history to repeat itself," which he finds "pretty dark."
• He emphasizes that his security needs are independent of his official role and are based on existing threats and risks.

11. Feeling Let Down by the UK:

• Prince Harry feels "very let down" by the UK, particularly by the tabloid press, which he accuses of inciting hatred.
• He struggles to forgive the decision made in 2020 that knowingly puts his family in harm's way.
• He questions why his family's safety is not a priority, regardless of their differences.

12. Devastation and Future Prospects:

• Prince Harry is "devastated" by the decision and the lack of protection for his family.
• He hopes that those behind the decision do not consider it a "win."
• He acknowledges that some family members may never forgive him for writing his book.
• He emphasizes that the security issue is the only remaining obstacle to reconciliation.
• He expresses concern that his children are unable to see their grandfather, uncle, and cousins safely.

Synthesis/Conclusion:

Prince Harry's interview reveals his deep disappointment and frustration with the UK's decision to downgrade his security, a decision he believes is unjust, politically motivated, and influenced by the Royal Household. He argues that this decision not only endangers his family but also sets a dangerous precedent. He calls for government intervention, a review of RAVC, and a renewed focus on the safety and well-being of his family, emphasizing the need for truth and reconciliation to mend fractured relationships. The core of his argument is that his security should be based on the existing threats and his past service to the country, not on his official role within the Royal Family.