£12 million a year: The real cost of Harry and Meghan’s private security bill

£12 million a year: The real cost of Harry and Meghan’s private security bill

Author: The Telegraph September 18, 2026 Duration: 23:47

In today’s special edition of The Royal T, as both the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are awaiting a review into their individual security status to determine whether they are entitled to receive taxpayer-funded security, Camilla Tominey and Victoria Ward speak to Paul Lewis -- a close protection expert who has run security operations for royal and high net-worth individuals for more than 20 years.

He explains the logistics and eye-watering cost of the security Prince Harry and Meghan would need as both private citizens and high-profile members of the Royal family.


Paul reveals why the Sussexes’ full security detail could cost up to £12m in the UK, why social media has exacerbated modern security risks and why private teams without armed authority struggle to counter these threats, compared to state-level intelligence resources.


You can get tickets to The Daily T On The Road Sunday Showdown at Labour conference with Bridget Phillipson at telegraph.co.uk/partyconferences


► Subscribe to our new Daily T YouTube channel: youtube.com/@dailytpodcast


► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor


The Telegraph is the Publisher Podcast Awards' Podcast Publisher of the Year 2026


Producer: David Levene

Senior Producer: Emma Williams

Social Producer: Nada Aggour

Video Producer: Jim Spencer

Executive Producer: Charlotte Seligman

Editor: Camilla Tominey


Highlights:



  • Security expert Paul Lewis analyses the cost and logistics of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex
  • Camilla, Victoria and Paul discuss the risks Harry and Meghan face in light of the crunch meeting reviewing their security status in the UK

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


For a sharp, unfiltered take on the stories shaping Britain and beyond, tune into The Daily T. This daily podcast from The Telegraph is driven by the candid chemistry and quick wit of Associate Editor Camilla Tominey and columnist Tim Stanley. They don’t just recap the headlines; they dive into the nuances, arguments, and often absurd realities behind the day’s most pressing topics in politics, culture, and society. The conversation is free-thinking and direct, cutting through the noise with a blend of analysis and humour that feels more like a compelling chat with well-informed friends than a formal news broadcast. Listeners will find themselves in the middle of intelligent debates on Westminster manoeuvres, cultural shifts, and global affairs. The podcast regularly features exclusive sit-downs with a wide array of influential voices, from political figures like Nigel Farage and Kemi Badenoch to other prominent names in the public eye, adding depth and varied perspective to the ongoing dialogue. It’s a reliable, engaging listen for anyone wanting to understand the ‘why’ behind the news, delivered with the distinctive edge and authority of The Telegraph’s editorial voice. Each episode promises to be both a briefing and a provocation, making The Daily T a standout in the daily news podcast landscape.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 50

The Daily T
Podcast Episodes
Burnham backlash: Middle classes revolt against migrant housing plan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 38:46
In Wednesday’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Poppy Coburn react to Andy Burnham’s demand that middle-class towns and villages across the UK take in their “fair share” of illegal migrants.They examine the se…
Reform at war: Is Zia Yusuf out of control? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:25
In today’s episode of The Daily T, Camilla Tominey and Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg discuss the internal feud that has erupted in the Reform UK party, as leader Nigel Farage has been forced to step in and reprimand his home affai…
Jason Arday: Cambridge’s woke poster boy or smear campaign victim? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:15
In this episode of The Daily T, Tim Stanley and Jacob Rees-Mogg dissect the downfall of Professor Jason Arday following his resignation from Cambridge University in the wake of plagiarism allegations and unverified CV cl…