The disagreement over protection arrangements has persisted since 2020

A pair of uniformed police officers without firearms were observed arriving at Chatham House this afternoon ahead of the Duke of Sussex's departure from an Invictus Games Foundation event.

The unarmed officers were witnessed being ushered inside the venue by Prince Harry's personal protection detail.

Their presence raised questions given that the duke is not believed to have received state-funded security arrangements for his current visit to Britain.

Harry touched down in the UK on Monday for what had originally been planned as a family visit combining official engagements with private time.

The security dispute surrounding the trip threw those plans into disarray, however.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet ultimately remained in the United States rather than travelling to London with their father.

Whether the children will visit Britain at any point during the trip remains unclear.

The situation has also cast doubt on whether the young royals will have the opportunity to see King Charles, whom they have not met in four years.

The disagreement over protection arrangements has persisted since Harry relinquished his role as a working member of the Royal Family in 2020.

Following the Sandringham Summit in early 2020, Buckingham Palace stated that "well established independent processes" existed to assess requirements for publicly funded protection.

During their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey, the Sussexes addressed the removal of their security. Harry revealed he was informed while in Canada that protection would be withdrawn because they were no longer working royals.

"I never thought that I would have my security removed, because I was born into this position," the prince said, describing the decision as a "shock."

The duke launched legal proceedings in September 2021, challenging Ravec's determination that his UK protection would be assessed case-by-case rather than guaranteed.

Following a battle that reached the Court of Appeal, Harry lost his challenge in May 2025. Speaking to the BBC afterwards, he stated: "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point."

Despite losing his legal challenge, reports emerged in December 2025 that Ravec would nonetheless review the threat level facing the duke.

On June 26 this year, Harry and Meghan announced their intention to visit Britain from July 7-11 with both children to mark one year until the Invictus Games.

They acknowledged at the time that Ravec had not altered the case-by-case security arrangement established in 2020.

Within a day, sources close to Harry indicated his dissatisfaction with the protection offered, reportedly limited to police coverage only within royal residences.

A report published on July 2 revealed Harry's private security team had warned the Government he faced "elevated risk" in Britain.