Prince Harry has reportedly made a private appeal to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood as uncertainty over his family's security threatens to overshadow his imminent return to Britain.

Harry, 41, is said to have contacted the politician directly as he sought clarity over whether he, his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 45, and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, will receive police protection after relocating to the UK, according to the Daily Telegraph.

The intervention comes after a formal risk assessment was completed by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee's risk management board at the end of July, but before its findings had been communicated to Harry.

The assessment was completed before Harry confirmed his family intended to move back to Britain, a change expected to require Ravec to reconsider the circumstances surrounding his protection.

Government sources told the Telegraph the Sussexes' decision to live permanently in Britain rather than making occasional visits "changes the nature" of the security assessment.

Harry is understood to have approached Ms Shabana because he remains concerned about the protection that will be available to his family.

The Home Office has repeatedly declined to disclose details of individual security arrangements, arguing doing so could compromise their effectiveness.

The latest development comes as Harry and Meghan prepare to return to Britain six years after stepping back as working members of the royal family and moving to North America in 2020.

They are expected to live in a private, non-royal residence outside London, while Archie and Lilibet are said to have been enrolled in a British school and are due to begin classes in September.

Harry and Meghan are not expected to resume duties as working royals.

They also reportedly intend to retain their homes in California and Portugal.

Security has been one of the most contentious issues surrounding Harry since his departure from royal duties.

His automatic entitlement to the level of taxpayer-funded police protection he received as a working royal was removed following the change in his status.

Harry subsequently launched a legal challenge over the arrangements but lost his appeal in May 2025.

Following the defeat, Harry told the BBC: "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK at this point."

The circumstances have now changed dramatically, with the family preparing to establish a home in Britain.

Ravec is expected to make a new assessment because previous arrangements were based on Harry and Meghan living outside the country rather than residing in Britain.

The security question comes amid another significant shift in Harry's relationship with the royal family.

Harry, Meghan and their children met King Charles, 77, and Queen Camilla, 79, at Highgrove in July, although Harry's decision to move back to Britain was not discussed during the visit, according to reports.

Charles is said to have been subsequently informed of the relocation plan last week just days before it became public.

Harry's relations with Prince William, 44, remain strained.

The brothers' rift became one of the defining subjects of Harry's memoir, Spare, published in 2023, in which the duke made a series of disclosures about his life within the royal family and his relationship with William.

Harry and Meghan also discussed their experiences as working royals in their 2021 interview with Oprah Winfrey and the Netflix documentary series Harry and Meghan.

The Sussexes' return has renewed public attention on whether their security will again be funded by taxpayers.

Prime Minister Andy Burnham declined to be drawn on the issue last week.

He said: "This is a private matter. It's a matter for Harry and Meghan, and we wish them well in the moves that they're making."

The Home Office has also maintained its longstanding position on discussing protection.

A spokesperson said: "The UK government's protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals' security."