Prince Harry's September visit to London, intended to spotlight charitable work and scientific research, instead exposed a severe security lapse after an alleged stalker reportedly breached restricted areas and later came within yards of the Duke of Sussex. The incidents, which unfolded across two separate venues, have intensified scrutiny of the downgraded security arrangements that have fueled Harry's years-long legal dispute with the U.K. government.
According to reports from those present, the first breach occurred on 7 September at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, where Harry was scheduled to attend the WellChild Awards. A woman described in media accounts as a fixated or known individual allegedly gained access to a zone believed to be secure and was discovered hiding in a bathroom roughly half an hour before Harry was due to arrive.
Witnesses recalled that the woman made "odd comments" about the Duke, prompting private security to remove her from the premises. Yet she reportedly remained near the hotel afterward, with later sightings placing her beside Harry's car as he prepared to depart-an indication that she was able to return to the area despite earlier intervention.
A second encounter occurred two days later at Imperial College London's Centre for Blast Injury Studies. Individuals familiar with the episode said the same woman approached within a few yards of Harry before a staff member recognized her and stepped in, physically blocking her advance. The close contact, coming so soon after the hotel breach, triggered what sources described as an immediate escalation of internal security protocols.
Reports also claim the woman has written letters to Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, and appears on a privately maintained list of individuals considered potential risks to the couple and their children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. These disclosures have added new urgency to Harry's push for reinstated police protection during U.K. visits.
The security debate has been ongoing since 2020, when Harry and Meghan's withdrawal from royal duties resulted in the loss of taxpayer-funded Metropolitan Police protection. Harry argues that his private team cannot replicate the authority, intelligence access, and enforcement powers of state security officers-a distinction his lawyers underscored in filings warning that his "life and safety" were jeopardized under current arrangements.
In May, the Duke lost his appeal after the Court of Appeal upheld the government's decision to maintain his downgraded protection. He has since requested that Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood order a new risk assessment by RAVEC, the panel responsible for determining security for senior figures.
A spokesperson for Harry has declined to address the recent reports, reiterating that the Duke does not comment on security matters. However, individuals familiar with his position say the incidents reinforce his stance that he cannot safely bring Meghan or their children to the U.K. without full police support.
