A cancer-stricken grandfather has not held his grandchildren since June 2022. A son separated by an ocean cannot bring his family home. A pending decision could bridge this divide or extend a rift that would be longer than any in modern royal history.
Britain’s Home Office is undertaking its first full threat assessment of Prince Harry since his 2020 departure from royal duties. The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, or Ravec, plans to decide as early as February whether the Duke of Sussex receives automatic police protection on UK visits.
Security Decision Looms
The committee is reviewing whether Harry qualifies for standard armed protection during trips, potentially resolving a five-year impasse that has barred his children from seeing their grandfather. King Charles III, 77, continues cancer treatment while his grandchildren, Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4, live in California. He last saw them at Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee in June 2022. Insiders note the monarch recognizes their childhoods are fleeting and seeks to avoid being a remote figure.
King’s Health Adds Urgency
Charles’s diagnosis has sharpened his desire for family ties. Sources indicate formalities and past disputes now matter less amid his treatment, as he confronts limited time with grandchildren he scarcely knows. The 3.5-year separation marks the longest in his reign without seeing them, especially poignant during holidays. He recalls his own fragmented youth and wishes to spare Archie and Lilibet a similar distance from heritage.
Harry’s Courtroom Setback
In May 2025, Harry lost a High Court bid challenging the Home Office’s security stance. His lawyers claimed Ravec singled him out for inferior treatment, but judges ruled the process lawful. Following the ruling, Harry told the BBC that he could not envision returning with his family under the existing arrangements. Since 2020, protection has been granted on a case-by-case basis, which his team calls inflexible amid unpredictable threats. At Prince Philip’s 2021 funeral, the security offered fell short of his needs.
Recent Developments and Risks
Harry’s latest meeting with Charles took place in September 2025 at Clarence House, lasting approximately 50 minutes—a rare contact after sparse exchanges. He has visited Britain multiple times since moving to Montecito, always without his wife, Meghan Markle, and their children. In May 2023, paparazzi chased him aggressively in New York after an event, evoking Princess Diana’s fatal pursuit.
His team cited al-Qaeda death threats and his military background as evidence of elevated danger. Harry alleged that the Royal Household interfered in his 2020 downgrade, shifting him from high to low risk overnight, although the courts found no bias.
Review Process Underway
Harry prompted the reassessment by writing directly to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, per reports. Evidence from police, government, and his side feeds Ravec’s risk board, which includes representatives from the Home Office, Metropolitan Police, and Royal Household under an independent chair.
Approval could cost taxpayers $2-3 million yearly, based on standard royal safeguards. Officials describe the system as rigorous; skeptics question the timing, given prior refusals. The process stays confidential, with no guaranteed outcome.
Family Tensions and Future Stakes
Harry seeks UK access and schooling options for Archie and Lilibet, reportedly clashing with Meghan’s security-based reluctance to return to the UK. Resolution might expose divides over their upbringing and royal ties. Sources suggest Harry regrets past public criticisms and aims to mend bonds, viewing talks as a step toward functional family relations.
If approved, the children could visit for the first time since 2022, perhaps at Balmoral or Sandringham. Ravec’s verdict will test whether safety enables reunion or entrenches separation, weighing Charles’s wishes against enduring risks in a fractured dynasty.
Sources
Prince Harry’s Bid To Split Kids’ Lives Between 2 Continents Ignites Marriage Meltdown FearsRadarOnline — King Charles emotional wish for Archie, Lilibet revealed (December 28, 2025)
The Guardian — Harry wrote directly to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood requesting security reassessment (January 2026)
BBC News — Prince Harry’s High Court security challenge defeat and subsequent interview (May 2025)
GB News — Prince Harry security review remains unfinished; government sources on uncertainty (January 8, 2026)
The Daily Mail — Harry regret over past actions and reset relationship efforts (January 2026)
The Mirror — King Charles separation pain and holiday impact (December 2025)