Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s trip to “high terror threat” country Colombia after branding the UK unsafe will make no difference to the Sussexes’ concerns about security in Britain, a former royal bodyguard has suggested.
Despite the Duke of Sussex’s fears about bringing his family to his home country, Harry and Meghan set to visit Colombia still this year, although there is a “high threat of terrorist attack” against British interests and UK citizens in the South American country, according to the Foreign Office.
The move has drawn criticism from some who have compared security levels in Britain with those in Colombia, where the Foreign Office says it is “very likely” that terrorists will carry out attacks.
But former royal protection officer Simon Morgan said Express.co.uk The Sussexes’ decision to accept an invitation to visit Colombia from the country’s vice president will make no difference to Harry and Meghan’s safety in Britain.
Mr Morgan said: “The threat and risk profile in the UK will be very different to Colombia. There are different specificities here… You need to look at both places in isolation and consider the threat and risk profile of each separately. They are two totally different environments.”
He added: “Harry and Meghan made a choice as private individuals to go to [Colombia]. [Their security] it’s entirely up to them now and their advisors. It doesn’t change anything [in Britain]… It’s a different scenario. We’re not discussing a permanent security team with him. I don’t think that changes anything, not at all. [Britain’s] current position.”
The Duke is contesting the decision to downgrade his security status in the UK, which was made when he and the Duchess stepped down as working royals in 2020.
Harry no longer receives the same level of taxpayer-funded police protection afforded to members of the Royal Family, but instead his security needs are arranged on a case-by-case basis.
Prince HarryThe attempt to challenge the Interior Ministry’s decision to downgrade its security was rejected by the High Court in February, but the Court of Appeal said in June it would hear his challenge following an application from the Duke’s lawyers.
The decision on Harry’s security was made by the Royal Executive and VIP Committee (Ravec), which is responsible for making security arrangements for members of the Royal Family.
Mr Morgan explained that anyone coming to the UK on an official state visit receives a degree of protection from a dedicated unit, with “everything” covered in security including screening, control of areas visited by dignitaries and searches.
Much of Harry’s hearing in February was held in private due to security concerns, but he recently told ITV fears for his family’s safety prevented him from bringing them to the UK. This includes an attack by a lone individual targeting his family.
His last trip to Britain was in May, when the duke was in London to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Invictus Games. On that occasion, he visited Meghan and her children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, before flying to Nigeria, where he and the Duchess went on a three-day tour.
On the risk profile in Colombia, Mr Morgan said: “Colombia is a beautiful environment, but it is also an extremely brutal and complex one from a security perspective, not only because of the drug cartels in and around the country, but also far-left terrorism.
“Certainly in border regions, kidnapping, murder and exploitation are common, even in the capital, Bogotá.”
He explained that Harry and Meghan will be “in good standing” because they have been invited by the Colombian government, so the state’s military, police and intelligence agencies will be tasked with ensuring the trip runs smoothly.
Mr. Morgan said: “There would be damage to [Colombia’s] international reputation if something were to happen. They will put as much mitigation (against security risks) as they can in a layered security process: screening people in areas the Sussexes will visit, providing armored cars, I imagine that is a definite. They would also consider air security.
“Their itinerary will be published in advance so there is no element of surprise and there is no need to improve mitigation and contingencies.”
Prince Harry It is Meghan Markle could be targets of Colombian drug cartels or far-left terrorists seeking to embarrass the country’s government, according to the security expert, who now works as Director of Operations and Training at security firm Trojan Consultancy.
Mr Morgan warned: “It would be a major blow if a cartel did something to destabilise or embarrass the Colombian government. It would be extremely embarrassing… From a Colombian perspective, they already live with a high level of security. That would have to be increased.”