Prince Harry and Meghan Markle‘s decision to move their children to another school after just two days has triggered fresh questions over how their return to Britain was planned.
The convoy carrying Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet was reportedly separated in heavy term-time traffic, creating concerns for the family’s private protection team.
The episode has drawn criticism from former police chiefs and parents, while Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wider security arrangements are being reviewed.
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Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five, spent only 48 hours at the unnamed prep school before being withdrawn on the advice of their security team.
The problem was not the school itself but the journey there, which could take about an hour once term-time congestion hit.
According to reports, the protection team had tested the route during the summer holidays, when traffic conditions were lighter.
Once the school year began, the morning commute proved more difficult, with the Sussexes’ vehicles reportedly struggling to remain together.
A spokesperson for Harry and Meghan said the decision followed discussions with the security team about “the practicalities of their current arrangements” and stressed that it “should in no way be interpreted as a reflection on the school or the exceptional care the children have received there.”
Former Police Chiefs Question The Couple’s Planning After School Incident
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The sudden change has prompted blunt criticism from ex-police officials. Former Metropolitan Police Chief Superintendent Dal Babu questioned why the issue had not been identified before the children started school.
“It does beggar belief why they haven’t thought this through. I don’t think he [Harry] has helped himself or the situation by not arranging things in good time,” Babu said, describing the episode as evidence that the family may have “rushed” its move.
Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, questioned whether the convoy itself was necessary. Speaking to LBC, he said: “If you keep a low profile, most people outside the school wouldn’t know where you are, what they’re doing, and all the rest of it.”
Davies added: “Do they really need to go in convoy with two little children on the school run? If they only just kept a little quieter, kept a lower profile, they’d be a lot safer in my view.”
UK Political Leader Questions Why Prince Harry And Meghan ‘Remain Without Protection’ In The UK
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A politician, who is a member of the Labour Party in the UK, has suggested that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex may have been left exposed without security protection.
Mike Tapp, who represents Dover and Deal in Kent, said: “Nearly three weeks after their arrival, the King’s son, Meghan, and their children remain without protection.”
He continued: “Whatever the eventual outcome, there are serious questions about how this process has been handled.”
“In the cold light of day, there should be a proper review to ensure decisions of this importance are made swiftly, independently and on the basis of risk,” Tapp added.
Parents Were ‘Baffled’ By The Sussexes’ School Decision
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The security concerns have also surprised parents familiar with the school’s surroundings.
One mother with two children at the school said Harry and Meghan’s decision to enroll their children had initially been a move that excited many families.
However, she said parents were “completely baffled” by the sudden withdrawal, arguing that the congestion should have been obvious before term began.
“You don’t need to be an expert to know how congested that area is. It’s one of the worst places to drive in the UK,” she said.
Another mother was similarly unsurprised, saying of the slow school run: “This was obviously going to happen.”
The comments add a local perspective to the criticism from security figures, although the family’s supporters have emphasized that the decision was about protecting the children and ensuring the protection team could operate effectively.
Security Review Adds To The Pressure For Prince Harry And Meghan
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The school switch also arrived as Harry and Meghan’s security arrangements in Britain face fresh scrutiny.
The Guardian reported that the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, known as RAVEC, is conducting separate risk assessments for Harry and Meghan following their return to the UK as full-time residents.
Harry’s publicly funded police protection was reduced after he and Meghan stepped back as working royals, and he has challenged the decision through the courts.
Meghan is now receiving her first government-backed security review since the couple left royal duties in 2020.
RAVEC has reportedly asked for details of the couple’s schedules and daily routines. That makes the children’s school run a practical issue as the family settles into a new routine in Britain.
Now, the school issue has fueled debate over whether the Sussexes’ return was sufficiently planned, particularly because the family had only recently relocated from California.
The episode has also placed greater focus on the difference between a genuine security risk and a logistical problem, a distinction that will remain important as the family’s UK arrangements are reassessed.
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