The Sussexes ceased receiving the same automatic taxpayer-funded police protection they had while serving as senior working royals.
Decisions concerning protective security are considered by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as Ravec, rather than personally determined by Charles.
Another source claimed: “Nobody is suggesting the King can decide whether Harry receives police protection, because that is not his decision. But the Palace is acutely conscious of the significance Harry attaches to how his status is defined.
“Harry has spent years arguing that leaving royal duties did not suddenly remove the risks arising from his identity, profile and position as the King’s son. From his perspective, being acknowledged as a public figure potentially fits far more comfortably with that argument than being repeatedly characterized as an ordinary private citizen.”
The insider noted, “That is precisely why there is little appetite on the Palace side to change the wording. They do not want to provide anything that might conceivably strengthen Harry’s position in his continuing security fight.”
Harry has previously challenged decisions over his protection through the British courts, arguing that he could not safely bring his family to Britain under the arrangements imposed after 2020.