A new report warns that an unforeseen security issue is casting a shadow over the royal family‘s big events. The news arrives as Prince Harry and Meghan Markle renew demands for taxpayer-funded armed police protection. For the unversed, the Metropolitan Police Service’s specialist division, Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP), oversees security for the British royal family.
Met Police’s latest decision affects the security of the Royal Family at their major events
Fresh unease is gripping Buckingham Palace as the Met Police is reportedly weighing cuts to the security detail for one of the royal family’s flagship events.
At the center of the reported concern is Trooping the Color. It marks King Charles‘ official public birthday, making any security cut especially sensitive.
The Telegraph has reported that the polariZing overhaul kicks in next month. It apparently stems from budget constraints and the urgent need for more frontline cover.
The publication further revealed that military ceremonial events required nearly 17,800 police deployments over the last year. The estimated price tag was $14.2 million. The Met has reportedly pulled most officers from roles like Changing of the Guard and ceremonial gun salutes.
Police sources have also insisted that officers will still support “nationally significant events.” They added that they will only step in “where the threat, harm and risk assessments justify it.”
Explaining the move, a Metropolitan Police representative told The Daily Express, “The public rightly want to see officers on the frontline, arresting criminals and keeping our city safe. That’s our priority. Against a backdrop of financial cuts and increased demand, we had to make difficult decisions about what to prioritize to protect Londoners and over recent months have engaged with the Ministry of Defence around proposed changes to how we support military ceremonial events.”
But Lord Dannatt, former head of the British Army, has offered a contrasting take. Sharing his view, he said, “The bottom line is internal security is the responsibility of the Metropolitan Police, end of story. I am surprised that a risk assessment can outsource something like this to private security. On the face of it, it sounds wrong and shouldn’t be driven on cost grounds.”
