Prince Harry ‘Genuinely Believed’ Archie and Lilibet Would Impact Security Fight: ‘It Changed Nothing’

Prince Harry believed he had one last move to make in his long-running security battle: his own children his shares with Meghan Markle.

According to a report Rob Shuter‘s Naughty But Nice Substack published on Friday, July 10, Harry, 41, was convinced that bringing his children Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, into his fight for taxpayer-funded police protection in Britain would leave officials with little choice but to grant it.

“Harry genuinely believed the children would change everything,” one insider told Shuter. “He thought no one in government would risk the headlines if Archie and Lilibet were left without the level of security he was requesting. He was convinced it would force RAVEC’s hand.”

RAVEC, or the Royal and VIP Executive Committee, is the U.K. body responsible for deciding who receives police protection, and it’s the same committee that stripped Harry of his taxpayer-funded security detail after he stepped back from royal duties in 2020.

It didn’t work out that way. “RAVEC wasn’t swayed by emotion or optics,” another source told Naughty But Nice. “They followed the same procedures they always do. Harry expected the presence of his children to reshape the conversation. Instead, it changed nothing.”

The setback lands amid a rough stretch for Harry, who has also suffered a significant legal defeat and learned he won’t be staying at Buckingham Palace during his current U.K. visit. “Harry feels like every avenue is closing,” an insider told Shuter. “He truly believed his children would be the one argument no one could dismiss. When that failed, it was a devastating reality check.”

Despite the disappointment, sources say Harry has no plans to give up the fight. “Harry still believes he’s fighting for his family’s safety,” another insider told the outlet. “This defeat hurt, but it hasn’t changed his determination. If anything, it’s convinced him the fight isn’t over.”