Prince Harry, Meghan Markle Could Spend This Much For Top-Tier Security In The UK

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's security in the United Kingdom will cost them much when they pay it from their own pockets.

The Duke of Sussex offered to personally pay for police protection in the U.K. to keep his family safe. Prince Harry said that he wants to visit his home country but feels it's unsafe to bring his wife and kids along. Security expert Richard Aitch estimated that it would cost a "huge" chunk of money to pay for police protection in the U.K.

"It's very difficult to put a figure exactly on it," he told Us Weekly. "The cost for a personal protection officer from the [Metropolitan Police] has been estimated to be around £100,000 a year."

He noted that the amount could "considerably" fluctuate "over time." The other factors to consider are the expenses, including flights, accommodations abroad, and their two children, son Archie, 2, and 7-month-old daughter Lilibet.

"What may appear as a wish on paper is far more in reality, and the costs can certainly be quite huge," he added.

The Duke of Sussex announced earlier this month that he requested to pay for police protection in the U.K., but the Home Office denied it twice. He claimed to have filed a judicial review against the Home Office's decision.

Prince Harry wanted police protection because he felt that his private security team was not capable of providing the protection he needed in the U.K. due to insufficient jurisdiction and lack of access to U.K. intelligence information.

Prince Harry's security request has received mixed reactions online. Some supported him while others slammed him because he already knew that the Met police do not serve private citizens. The duke lost his privilege for police protection when he stepped down from his royal duties.

"However, with regards to Harry, he can't pick and choose when he wants to come," explained Dai Davies, an operational unit commander for royal protection from 1995 and a former divisional commander in the Metropolitan Police Service. "There has never been a precedent where somebody pays for their security in this country. If it's required, it will be provided."

Meanwhile, Graham Yuill, 63, an SAS-trained ex-soldier, was "quite alarmed" with the Home Office's decision. He agreed that the prince is "an easy target for motivated terrorists." Also, private security is not allowed to carry guns and would not be able to protect him like the armed police.

"So people can have all the training you want, they can look smart and look intimidating, but there's nothing you can do if you're not armed. If a sniper ranges in at 1,500 feet away, if they were to fire a shot, there's no way you can react," he added.