According to a report by the Daily Mail, Prince Harry’s unexpected decision to return to Britain with Meghan Markle and their children has reopened the most controversial issue surrounding his departure from royal duties: security.

For years, Harry has argued that stepping away from the working Royal Family did not remove the risks connected to his identity. But now, as he prepares to establish a private home in Britain again, the question of who should pay for his protection has become more complicated than ever.

The Duke of Sussex has reportedly contacted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood privately, seeking answers over whether his family will receive taxpayer-funded security when they move back to the UK. The potential cost could reach at least £5 million a year, and possibly more if Harry, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet remain in Britain permanently.

The timing has made the issue even more sensitive. Harry and Meghan’s return was announced suddenly, and sources say the security review carried out by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee’s risk management board was completed without knowing that Harry was planning a permanent move back to Britain.

That detail could change the entire calculation.

The review was originally connected to Harry’s long-running battle over protection after he stopped being a working royal. Following his departure from royal duties in 2020, Harry lost automatic access to publicly funded security. He later challenged that decision legally, arguing that his family still faced serious threats.

However, after losing his appeal, Harry continued pushing for another assessment. He reportedly described the process as unfair and previously accused the establishment of blocking his efforts.

Now, with his family preparing to return, the security question is no longer theoretical. It becomes a practical issue involving where they live, where their children go to school and how often they appear publicly.

Harry has consistently argued that the protection should be funded because his position makes him a target. Supporters of his argument point to his previous threats and the fact that he remains high-profile because of his place in the line of succession.

A previous security assessment in April 2019 reportedly placed Harry at the highest possible threat category, level seven out of seven. A new review later considered a 40-page risk report prepared by Harry’s private security company, which warned that an attack at a public event could potentially create a “mass casualty event.”

But the disagreement is not only about danger. It is also about status.

Harry and Meghan are returning as private individuals, not working royals. Buckingham Palace’s position remains that there will be no return to a “half-in, half-out” arrangement. This creates a difficult balance: Harry wants recognition of his unique security situation, while officials must decide whether that situation is different from other non-working members of the Royal Family.

The contrast has already become part of the debate. Other relatives, including Peter Phillips, Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, do not receive permanent taxpayer-funded police protection despite being connected to the Royal Family.

The decision also carries personal consequences inside the monarchy.

King Charles was reportedly informed about Harry’s return plans shortly before the announcement. Following reports of a family discussion at Balmoral, the King was seen leaving the Scottish estate. The so-called “Sussex Summit” reportedly involved conversations about the implications of Harry and Meghan’s return.

For Charles, having his son and grandchildren closer may represent an opportunity for reconciliation. But for the wider institution, the security question creates a difficult precedent.

One of the most interesting aspects of this situation is that Harry is returning to the country he previously described as unsafe for his family. His decision represents a major change from his earlier position, when he argued that bringing Meghan and their children back to Britain without adequate protection was impossible.

The question now is whether the move itself changes the security argument or strengthens it.

If Harry receives taxpayer-funded protection, critics may argue that he is receiving privileges without royal duties. If he does not, Harry and his supporters may argue that the risks were ignored despite his history and public profile.

The return of the Sussexes was supposed to be about family, education and rebuilding connections. Yet before Archie and Lilibet even begin their new lives in Britain, one unresolved issue from the past has followed them across the Atlantic.

Harry may have left royal duties behind, but the debate over what comes with being a prince appears to be returning with him.