Prince Harry ‘a fool’ to describe security and royal layouts
London: Prince Harry has compromised the security of the royal family by describing the layout of royal residences as well as his personal protection detail, an expert has said.
Dai Davies, a former head of royal protection, said the Duke of Sussex was a “fool” for revealing such information in his memoir, Spare, which “in the wrong hands” could prove “dangerous”.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Duke and Duchess of Sussex, leave after a service of thanksgiving for the reign of Queen Elizabeth II in June.Credit:AP
The Duke writes that he carried an electronic tracker and panic alarm at all times, describing how his protection team operated and reacted.
He includes a detailed description of where to find the Queen Consort’s “fanciest bottles” of wine, “absurd gifts from foreign governments and potentates” as well as “several storerooms full of paintings” at Highgrove, the King’s Gloucestershire home.
Minute details are also shared about the location of the late Queen’s bedroom at Balmoral and the precise route from the entrance at Clarence House to the King’s private sitting room, complete with the exact number of stairs.
Davies said: “These revelations give me great concern and will likely give great concern to Harry’s current team. It makes the job of protecting him, whether privately or otherwise, problematic. Only a fool would reveal this kind of detail about the royals’ inner sanctums.”
Harry has been criticised for revealing details of how the royal family operates behind closed doors.Credit:AP
He added: “Historically, there have always been people who have tried to access parts of royal palaces. Whether they are fixated individuals with mental health problems or terrorists, this information could prove very useful.”
Harry recounts the moment that Meghan was first introduced to the King and the Queen Consort, when they were met at the door of Clarence House by a butler and a house manager: “They led us down the long corridor, past the big paintings and gilt-edged mirrors, along the crimson carpet with the crimson runner, past the big glass cabinet filled with gleaming porcelain and exquisite heirlooms, up the creaky staircase, which rose three steps before jogging right, up another twelve steps, then jogged right again. There, at last, on the landing above us, stood Pa.”
Elsewhere, Harry describes how to get to his old basement hideout at Highgrove, nicknamed Club H.
The former bomb shelter, he says, can be reached by walking “through a heavy white ground-level door, then down a steep flight of stone stairs…along a damp stone floor, then descended three more stairs, walked down a long damp corridor with a low arched roof, then past several wine cellars, wherein Camilla kept her fanciest bottles, on past a freezer and several storerooms full of paintings, polo gear, and absurd gifts from foreign governments and potentates. Beyond that final storeroom were two green doors with little brass handles, and on the other side of those was Club H”.
The Duke also recounts in great detail the layout of Balmoral: “I can see … the light brown wooden door leading to the corridor with the crimson carpet and the walls papered in cream, a pattern of gold fleck, raised like braille, and then the many rooms along the corridor…and finally the castle’s main chamber.”
Harry also describes his former personal protection in detail, sparking fears that this could compromise the security of the rest of the royal family.
He writes: “I needed someone who’d treat me normal, which meant ignoring the armed bodyguard sleeping down the hall (To say nothing of the electronic tracker and panic alarm I carried with me at all times)”.
Harry adds that before his security protection was lost, he “had never been allowed to go anywhere without three armed bodyguards”. He also reveals that the official threat level in the country is “used by Palace security to allocate personnel and guns”.
The Telegraph, London
Get a note directly from our foreign correspondents on what’s making headlines around the world. Sign up for the weekly What in the World newsletter here.
Most Viewed in World
From our partners
Source: Read Full Article
