The removal of the most respected police officers bodyguards in a security shakeup has enraged senior royals.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall are among members of the family who have expressed ‘concern’ after recently losing some of their most loyal and longstanding personal protection officers.
Even the Queen is understood to have privately expressed her ‘disquiet’ over changes to the way they are protected.
It’s believed that many family members are upset at the Scotland Yard’s reorganisation.
Helen Millichap Metropolitan Police Commander, in charge Protection Command, is implementing the changes.
Senior royals are understood to have privately expressed ‘disquiet’ over changes to the way they are protected
She is said to have ‘ruffled feathers’ with her determination to ‘open up’ the ranks of the team of specialist officers who guard VIPs, known as Royalty and Specialist Protection (RaSP).
One of the most senior female officers at Scotland Yard, Yorkshire-born Cmdr Millichap, who was educated at Bradford Grammar School and Cambridge University, has insisted that long-standing bodyguards – known as personal protection officers (PPOs) – are moved to other roles in order to open up the division and make it less ‘cliquey’. According to her, the position should not be considered a permanent job.
The Royal Family is known to be unhappy because they are protected 24 hours a days by protection officers. Some are struggling to keep their favorite bodyguards safe in the face of immense pressure from Met.
‘Protection officers occupy very unique positions with MRFs [members of the Royal Family],’ said a source. ‘They are with them 24 hours a day and it understandably takes a long time to build up a good relationship of confidence and trust.
‘Several very well-liked and respected officers have been moved on from their roles, not through any fault of their own.
Protection officers guard the royal family members 24 hours per day
‘It’s simply because of this desire to shake things up a bit, sometimes for the sake of it, it seems.
‘Everyone is unhappy about it, not least some of the principals [royals]. Many people have been lost and there has been much turnover in their ranks. Some have made clear that they are really quite upset about it.’
Until 2015 the Royal Family used to be guarded by officers from Scotland Yard’s specialist Royalty and Diplomatic Protection group (SO14). Specialist Protection (SO1) has been combined with this group to form RaSP.
The Royal Protection Officers provide protection for the royal family. They also protect visiting heads and VIPs.
Retired Chief Superintendent Dai Davies, the former head of royalty protection and an ex-divisional commander at Scotland Yard, acknowledged the ‘unique’ position that royal bodyguards hold.
‘It’s an extremely unique relationship and any Met Commander does need to recognise that,’ he said.
‘In my opinion each officer and each royal must be assessed to ensure there is continuity.
‘There’s actually a partnership between royals and the police, and that needs to be nurtured and maintained.
‘The vast majority [of officers]They are amazing and excel at their job. Their expertise takes time. It is not uncommon for them to be more than a police officer. They can also become politicians or diplomats.
‘Building up these relationships takes trust and time, and that can’t be lightly dismissed.’
But Mr Davies, who before his retirement from the Met brought in ‘tenure’ – the requirement for officers to move roles after five to seven years – also argued that there was no supplement for ‘instinct’, based on knowledge formed over years.
Scotland Yard has acknowledged the ‘unique’ position that royal bodyguards hold
‘It’s a balance, a delicate one, but I do believe officers need to stay mentally fit and professional and it’s no bad thing, I believe, to switch things up every now and again,’ he said.
‘I wasn’t very popular with the rank and file when I brought it [tenure]In, I must say. But I do believe there is also a host of benefits to opening up the division.’
Scotland Yard claims that royal security would pose a safety risk. The public is not informed of the full costs. But it is believed to cost taxpayers well in excess of £125million a year.
Prince Andrew has no official duties anymore but still works with his guardians around-the-clock.