During his recent visit to London, Prince Harry encountered a known stalker on two occasions while attending court proceedings. The Duke of Sussex was in the UK to testify in his ongoing legal battle against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. This visit raised serious concerns regarding his personal safety.
For two of the four days Harry was present at the High Court, the woman, who is believed to have mental health issues, was able to sit just metres away from him in the public gallery. According to the Telegraph, Harry’s security team alerted court officials about the situation, but they were restricted in their ability to act. A source close to the duke explained, “There is nothing they could do; they are not the police. It’s a public building, and she has a right to be there. He is obviously always worried about his security situation; it’s not ideal.”
The stalker is reportedly on a list of individuals fixated on the duke. This incident follows a troubling pattern; during his visit to the UK for charity events in September, she gained access to a “secure zone” at the hotel where Harry attended the WellChild Awards. On another occasion that same week, while he visited the Centre for Blast Injuries Studies in west London, she was spotted nearby, prompting a member of his staff to intervene physically to prevent her from approaching.
The woman has a documented history of stalking both Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle. In 2024, she followed the couple during their trip to Nigeria. While Scotland Yard has not commented on the recent incidents, a security source told People magazine that the current situation is untenable. “These incidents are not uncommon for members of the royal family,” the insider stated. “It differs, however, because there was no police presence or close protection; it was left to two staffers from his private office to intervene. This time, they got lucky, recognising the fixated individual. Relying on luck is not a long-term fix.”
Harry faces significant challenges regarding his security. Last year, he lost an appeal to reinstate taxpayer-funded security in the UK after stepping back from royal duties and relocating to California. He described the decision as an “establishment stitch-up” in a BBC interview, following the adverse ruling. However, a review of his police protection by the Home Office was announced in December, marking a possible shift in his security arrangements. This review represents Harry’s first threat assessment since leaving his role as a working royal in 2020.
The ongoing concerns about Harry’s safety highlight the complexities surrounding royal security in the modern era. As one of the most recognized figures globally, the implications of these stalking incidents resonate far beyond personal boundaries, raising critical questions about the adequacy of protective measures for high-profile individuals.
