Angela Levin Claims Sussexes Are Using Children as Leverage in UK Security Row After Their Return

Royal biographer Angela Levin has accused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of using their children as leverage in the debate over their security arrangements in the UK, describing the alleged tactic as 'blackmail' during a TalkTV appearance.

Her comments come as the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) oversees fresh security assessments of the Sussexes following their return to Britain.

Harry and Meghan stepped back as senior working royals in 2020 and subsequently relocated to California.

RAVEC decided at the time that Harry would no longer receive the same degree of publicly funded personal protective security. The Court of Appeal upheld the decision in 2025.

The couple returned to the UK with their children in late August 2026 after six years in the US. Their security arrangements are now being reassessed in light of their changed circumstances.

Reporting indicates that officials want information about the family's daily routines, including school runs and regular travel, to help assess the risks they face.

Security Review Sparks 'Blackmail' Allegations From Angela Levin

Levin did not hold back in her assessment of the situation, telling TalkTV, '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.'

She went further, alleging the Sussexes were leveraging access to their children to pressure authorities. 'They're going here, 'you can't see the children'... And I think that it's a blackmail thing,' she said, implying the couple were using Archie and Lilibet as leverage in the security row.

The biographer also questioned why the British public should fund protection for a pair she described as 'extremely unpleasant' in the UK, adding, 'Why should we pay them? They're not doing anything; are they going to work for us? Are they helping? No, they're not... Just want the money.'

Levin said she would be 'delighted' if Harry and Meghan returned to their Montecito home should the review go against them.

Some reports have claimed that the couple could leave the UK 'within weeks' if the security outcome is unfavourable, with one friend telling outlets that Harry might decamp 'as soon as half-term' if he feels the decision signals 'deeper elements at play.'

School Move Underscores Security Concerns for Archie and Lilibet

The security debate intensified after Harry and Meghan moved their children to a new school just days into the autumn term, citing risks on the school run.

A spokesperson said: 'The decision for the children to move school was taken following a discussion with the family's security team about the practicalities of their current arrangements.' The statement added that the move was not a reflection on the previous school.

RAVEC has initiated fresh security reviews of the Sussexes, with Risk Management Boards assessing the threats they face.

Meghan is also due to undergo a separate risk assessment examining potential threats to her since the couple stepped back from royal duties. No final decision has been announced.

Some reports have claimed that Harry and Meghan feel unwelcome among members of the royal family following their return to the UK. Those claims have not been independently confirmed.

The reviews are ongoing, and no final decision on the Sussexes' future level of police protection has been publicly announced.