Why Meghan Markle Turned Down Prince Harry’s Suggestion To Hire Protection Officer

Meghan Markle reportedly turned down Prince Harry’s suggestion to hire a protection officer for her when they just started dating.

In the book “Harry: Conversations With the Prince,” royal author Angela Levin said that in 2016, Prince Harry wanted to pay for a retired Scotland Yard protection officer to protect the “Suits” alum. However, Markle, who was already famous because of her television show, said that it wasn’t necessary.

“Harry became so concerned about keeping Meghan safe that he volunteered to pay for a retired Scotland Yard protection officer to shield her, especially from the foreign press. Only top royals get protection paid for by the state 24/7… These are the Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and Prince Harry,” she said.

Markle, who was just Prince Harry’s girlfriend back then, didn’t qualify for a protection officer who will be paid for by the state. As such, the Duke of Sussex volunteered to pay for one from his own pockets.

Prince Harry wanted to follow in Prince Charles’ footsteps of hiring personal protection officers to watch over Camilla Parker Bowles before they tied the knot. Prince Andrew is also paying for protection officers to watch over his daughters, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie.

According to Levin, a personal protection officer for Markle would have cost Prince Harry over $63,000 yearly.

“He needn’t have worried. Behind Meghan’s soft dark eyes is an able and determined woman and she described Harry’s offer of a private protection officer as ‘charming but unnecessary,’” Levin said.

One year after they started dating, Prince Harry and Markle announced their engagement to the world. Shortly after, the couple tied the knot at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19, 2018.

On May 6, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex welcomed their first child, Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. They introduced the young royal to the public two days later.