Harry and Meghan’s security team had concerns over the children being stuck in stationary traffic during their commute, ITV News’ Royal Editor Chris Ship tells Good Morning Britain
Prince Harry and Meghan’s children have started their first full day at a new school on Tuesday following security concerns over their journey to and from the previous choice, ITV News understands.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex removed Prince Archie, seven, and five-year-old Princess Lilibet from their prep school days into the new school year, a spokesperson for the couple confirmed on Monday.
Security staff were concerned the Sussexes’ Oxford school commute could put them at an increased risk of danger, ITV News Royal Editor Chris Ship understands.
“If you’re going to do this every single day, the same journey at the same time – and anyone who knows Oxford in the school term time, it’s not an easy place to get to and from – their security people decided that you would become a bit of a target,” Ship told Good Morning Britain on Tuesday.
“You might argue, did they not do this test run during the term time? No, because they only made the decision in the middle of August that they were going to come.”
Issues discussed included the amount of time the children would spend stationary in traffic, the ability for the family car and the security car to stay together, the repeated pattern of doing the journey every day, and the commute time.
Security staff assessed their new school on Friday and Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet went in on Monday for a taster, with their first full day on Tuesday.
A spokesman for the couple said: “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.”
Earlier Chris Ship reported that Prince Harry was told he will get his security reviewed following his move back to the UK with Meghan and their children in August.
The issue has been a major cause of tension between the Sussexes and the Home Office committee which decides on the security provision for high-profile royals and politicians.
ITV News understands the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) has now written to the Duke of Sussex and informed him that his situation was discussed at a meeting last week.
It was decided that Harry should get a full review of his security now that he is resident in his home country and his children have started classes at a British school.
In January 2020, Harry and Meghan had announced they intended to step back as “senior” members of the royal family, become financially independent, still support the Queen, but split their time between the UK and North America.
But the late Queen ruled at the Sandringham Summit, which was convened to resolve the Megxit crisis, that the couple could not be half in and half out – and the King recently said the agreement still stands.
On Tuesday the Duchess of Sussex shared new photos of Harry and the children to mark his 42nd birthday, telling her followers he was “simply the best”.
The Instagram post included pictures of Harry and Lilibet skiing on holiday together, the Sussexes sharing a kiss in a vineyard and the family riding a quad bike in the UK countryside.
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