Prince Harry has been living with his wife Meghan and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, in a luxurious villa in the Californian city of Montecito for a good two years. The family’s property is secluded in a so-called gated community, i.e. an area to which only residents have access. Despite this, several intruders apparently managed to get onto the Sussexes’ property.
As the British newspaper “The Sun” reports, citing police sources, there were two police operations in May this year because the alarm was triggered in the villa. Harry, Meghan and the children are said to have been at home both times. Accordingly, the first incident occurred on May 19 – the fourth wedding anniversary of Harry and Meghan. A second police operation came on May 31, hours before the family flew by private jet to the UK to attend the Queen’s 70th Jubilee celebrations.
In the second incident, Harry and Meghan’s security team is said to have spotted an intruder, who then disappeared again. Police logged the events for trespassing, property crime and suspicious circumstances. Because the incidents in May were not the first of this kind. The police documents show that there were six operations in Harry and Meghan’s villa within 14 months because the alarm system was triggered.
Protecting himself and his family is an issue that is extremely important to Prince Harry. In the US, he has hired a private security team that includes former President Barack Obama’s bodyguard and a bodyguard who once worked for Michael Jackson. The fact that there were still several attempts to break into his villa prompted his biographer Angela Levin to make a sardonic comment. The British author told The Sun: “Perhaps Harry should focus more on security in California rather than complaining about his safety in the UK. After two burglar alarms in 12 days, he should make protecting his family in the US his priority make.”
The background is a legal dispute between the prince and the British government. After leaving the royal family, Harry and his family were cut off from state-funded police protection when visiting Great Britain. The 37-year-old is taking legal action against this. Harry’s lawyers have now achieved a first stage victory: the responsible judge allowed them to have the decision of the Home Office reviewed in court.
Sources: The Sun, Daily Mail