Prince Harry, Meghan Markle accused of 'blackmail'

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have faced a "blackmail" accusation from royal biographer Angela Levin as their security arrangements remain under review following their return to the UK.

Speaking to TalkTV, Levin criticised the couple's continued efforts to secure state-funded protection and suggested they could use their children and a potential departure from Britain as leverage.

"It's blackmail, isn't it? That's what I think. It's the two of them now, if you don't give them exactly what they want, when they want," Levin said.

She added, "They're going here, 'you can't see the children'… And I think that it's a blackmail thing."

Harry and Meghan returned to the UK late last month, six years after stepping back from royal duties and losing taxpayer-funded security.

Their current arrangements are being reviewed by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), while Meghan is also having her security assessed by her own Risk Management Board.

According to reports cited in the supplied material, the couple could return to their Montecito, California home if the security review does not produce the outcome they want.

A friend of Harry's reportedly said, "If he doesn't get [security], then I believe he will go back to Montecito for good, and that could be as soon as half-term."

Security concerns have also reportedly affected the couple's children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Their spokesperson said their move to another school followed discussions with the family's security team about "the practicalities of their current arrangements".

The couple have also reportedly questioned their decision to return to the UK amid tensions with other members of the royal family.

An unnamed source claimed Harry and Meghan now feel "unwelcomed" and have wondered whether returning was a "huge mistake".

In 2018, Harry was created Duke of Sussex ahead of his wedding to American actress Meghan Markle. The couple have two children, Archie and Lilibet. In January 2020, Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as working members of the royal family and relocated to Southern California. They subsequently established Archewell Inc., a Beverly Hills–based organisation encompassing both commercial and charitable ventures. In March 2021, Harry and Meghan gave a widely publicised interview to Oprah Winfrey on Oprah with Meghan and Harry. In December 2022, they appeared in the Netflix documentary series Harry & Meghan. In 2023, Harry published his memoir, Spare. In August 2026, he and Meghan relocated to the UK with their children, without plans to resume public duties as working members of the royal family.

Meghan married Prince Harry in 2018 and became known as the Duchess of Sussex. The couple stepped down as working royals in January 2020 and moved to Meghan's native Southern California. In March 2021, she and her husband participated in Oprah with Meghan and Harry, a much-publicized American television interview by Oprah Winfrey. She has written the children's book The Bench, hosted a podcast Archetypes (2022), and has appeared in the Netflix series Harry & Meghan (2022) and With Love, Meghan (2025). Her lifestyle and cooking brand, As Ever, was officially launched in April 2025. In August 2026, she and Harry relocated to the UK with their children, without plans to resume public duties as working members of the royal family.