Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was followed by the woman – described as a “fixated individual” – in London and even in Nigeria, but he left the Royal Family years ago
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are “not entitled to security” because they are now just “mere celebrities,” it is today argued.
The damning claim comes despite Harry being followed on several occasions, including twice in London, by a stalker, described as a “fixated individual”. She came “within yards” of the Duke of Sussex during his recent visit to the UK, it emerged this week.
His own private security “body blocked” the woman after she entered a “secure zone” at a hotel, and two days later, she came within just “a stone’s throw” from the duke when he visited Imperial College London’s Centre for Blast Injury Studies.
But it is argued today Harry and Meghan are just “celebrities” now and therefore should not receive security paid for by the British taxpayer, despite the scares. Jane Moore, a columnist and regular on Loose Women, said: “I sympathise. But the right (or not) to state-backed police protection is decided by executive committee Ravec, which decided that, as he is no longer a working royal, he’s not entitled to it. Indeed, thanks to their various commercial deals, it could be argued that Harry and Meghan are now classed as mere ‘celebrities.’”
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Jane shared her opinion in a column in The Sun this week, stating the couple have pursued commercial contracts since moving from the UK to the US five years ago. They announced they were stepping back as working members of the royal family in January 2020. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were then told they would receive a “bespoke” security service, where they’d need to give 30 days’ notice of any plans to travel to the UK, with each visit being assessed for threat levels and whether protection is needed.
But Jane, 63, claimed Harry and Meghan should not be afforded such protection if they are now seen as celebrities. The journalist added: “With alarming frequency, the newspapers are full of stories about other celebrities (particularly women) whose lives are blighted by stalkers that they don’t get state-backed police protection from. So if Harry was to get it, then why not them?”
The publication referred to high-profile stalking cases, including that of Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas who moved her mother to a different home due to the behaviour of 37-year-old creep Kyle Shaw. However, Shaw’s prison sentence was suspended for 20 months at Liverpool Crown Court earlier this year.
And Myleene Klass’ stalker was found guilty on Tuesday after sending her ‘disturbing’ unwanted letters and an air pistol. The singer said her home is now like “Fort Knox” and “Alcatraz” following the ordeal.