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Royal biographer Angela Levin has accused Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of “blackmail” over their U.K. security fight. Speaking to TalkTV, Levin asked why British taxpayers should foot the bill for their security. She also claimed the couple was using their children to get their way. 

“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.” Levin then added, “They’re going here, ‘you can’t see the children’… And I think that it’s a blackmail thing.” 

Levin, however, said she would be “delighted” if the couple returned to Montecito. She also questioned, “Why should we pay them? They’re not doing anything; are they going to work for us? Are they helping? No, they’re not.” She added, Harry and Markle just want the money.”

The comments came just weeks after Harry and Markle returned to the U.K. with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. The family landed at Birmingham Airport shortly before noon on August 26. They flew in privately from California. According to ITV, the family left the airport without a police escort. 

Their return came six years after they stepped back from royal duties and moved to California. This time, they planned to live in the U.K. as non-working royals. The family is expected to stay at a private property in the Cotswolds. Harry still didn’t have state-funded police protection when the family returned. 

Instead, the family had the number of a police liaison officer. Harry’s lawyers had also written to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood. They asked her to step in, arguing that the family’s security situation had changed now that they were living in Britain. Harry and Markle continue to pay for private security. 

Their guards, however, can’t carry guns in the U.K. or access intelligence from MI5 and MI6. Now, their security is under review again. RAVEC, the committee responsible for decisions on protection for senior royals and other public figures, is reviewing Harry’s security. 

Markle will also be subject to a separate risk assessment. It will be her first since the couple left royal duties. The new reviews don’t guarantee extra protection. RAVEC will assess their current situation, including the children’s school arrangements. 

That issue has already caused a change. Archie and Lilibet left their British prep school after only two days. Their security team raised concerns about the daily school run, including the heavy traffic. Their family car also became separated from the security vehicle. 

Harry and Markle’s spokesperson defended the move. According to the BBC, they 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 kids later started at another school. Harry has since said his children are “happy in school.” He told CTV, “It’s been great to be back on British soil.” Still, the security decision could affect how long the family stays in Britain. 

A friend of Harry reportedly told the Daily Mail, “If he doesn’t get [security], then I believe he will go back to Montecito for good, and that could be as soon as half-term.” The source also claimed Harry would see an unfavorable decision as proof that “there are deeper elements at play.” 

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