PRINCE Harry remains a big target for Islamic terrorists, a leading security expert has warned.

Chris Phillips, the former Head of the National Counter Tourism Security Office, told GB News: “He is still considered really by the world, a top-tier Royal, whether we like it or not. But also he fought in Afghanistan, so there’ll be a lot of extreme Islamic terrorists, that would like to do him some harm. And of course his mother tragically died after losing her police protection. So I think all these three things come together and you start looking at it and thinking well there is a threat, and he does need some help.”

Speaking to Anne Diamond and Stephen Dixon on Weekend Breakfast Mr Phillips, who has just launched a new fre Protect Duty action card app for counter-terrorism advice and training, added: “As we saw with his mother, you have to rely on individual companies and people that maybe aren’t as well trained as the Police. I think for his own peace of mind, he would like to have policing. Police officers are able to do things that private security guards can’t do, so I can understand his point completely. But also from the British taxpayer’s side, should we be paying for his protection? I think he is a special case actually. But there are concerns with the numbers of officers that will be required. Having close protection for someone like Prince Harry and his family, is a huge undertaking and you have to supply lots and lots of officers to do that. Of course, when he’s in the UK, he’ll probably be living in Frogmore, which is already a secured environment. But then every time they go out, there needs to be some kind of police officer or police team that goes with them. And that is a huge undertaking.

“You do have to look at the threat and the fact he was a soldier. He’s the Queen’s Grandson. There is a big threat against him and his family. So yes, he does need protection. The police are the best people to do that. But there is an enormous cost. It’s not just a few quid here and there that we’re talking about, we’re talking 15 or 16 police officers who would be detailed to that family consistently. And do we have the resources? But my own view would be yes, when Harry is in the UK it should be supplied by the UK authorities.”