Buckingham Palace publicly celebrated Princess Anne's appearance at the International Sheep Dog Trials on Monday while notably avoiding any comment on the escalating security controversy surrounding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, according to Geo.tv .
The royal family's official Instagram account shared photos from the event, where the Princess Royal serves as patron of the International Sheep Dog Society, a role she has held since 2007 . "A round of a-paws for this year's winners of the International Sheep Dog Trials!" the caption read, adding that Anne "met team members from across the United Kingdom, watched qualifying runs and presented awards for their contribution to sheepdog trialling" . The event, held at Daylesford Organic Farm in the Cotswolds from September 11 to 13, saw Anne interacting with handlers and their dogs in her signature understated style .
The social media post marked a conspicuous contrast to the palace's ongoing silence on the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who returned to the UK in late August after six years in California. Just days into the new school year, Harry and Meghan abruptly withdrew their children, Prince Archie, 7, and Princess Lilibet, 5, from their newly enrolled private school, citing security concerns about the commute .
"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," a spokesperson for the couple told Hello! magazine, emphasizing that the move was not a reflection on the school itself . According to the BBC, the family's private security team had deemed the original school run—complicated by distance and heavy traffic—difficult to secure, particularly because the children required a convoy of vehicles that proved impractical during busy school hours .
The school change coincided with a broader security review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), the government body responsible for determining police protection for public figures . RAVEC met last week to discuss whether Harry and Meghan should receive taxpayer-funded security now that they are full-time UK residents rather than occasional visitors . This marks the first such review for Meghan since the couple stepped back from royal duties in 2020 .
Harry has long fought for reinstated police protection, previously losing a legal challenge and an appeal against the government's decision to downgrade his security . He had said he could not "see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK" without guarantees . The couple currently relies on privately funded guards, with Harry reportedly arguing there are dozens of live threats against him originating in Britain .
Why this matters
The juxtaposition of Princess Anne's cheerful sheepdog engagement and the Sussexes' security turmoil underscores the widening gulf within the royal family since Harry and Meghan's departure. While King Charles's office continues to promote the working royals' activities, it has maintained public distance from the Sussexes, reiterating earlier this month that Harry and Meghan remain non-working members who will not use formal HRH titles . The RAVEC review carries significant implications: a favorable ruling could restore police protection costing the government millions annually, while a denial would leave Harry's family reliant on private security as they establish permanent roots in Britain .
What's next
RAVEC's Risk Management Board is expected to assess threats, travel patterns, and daily routines, including school runs, before reaching a final decision on the Sussexes' security status . Meanwhile, Archie and Lilibet are reportedly settling into a new school in the area, with Harry spotted accompanying his daughter to the reception area . Buckingham Palace has not commented publicly on the children's school change or the pending security review.
