A new poll has found that a large majority of Britons oppose using taxpayer money to fund security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, as Harry and Meghan prepare to return to the UK after six years living in the United States. The move comes as the couple's children, Archie and Lilibet, are set to start at British schools in September, reigniting long-running disputes over who should cover the cost of their protection.

The survey of 2,128 British adults found that 71% believe the government should not pay for the family's security costs, while 87% said the Sussexes' own private funds should cover all or most of the expense; 52% suggested King Charles's private wealth should contribute. Security costs have been estimated at up to £5 million a year, and the review by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) is reported to have concluded last month. The couple, thought to be considering a private home outside London, possibly in the Cotswolds, will retain their existing non-working royal status, and a separate YouGov poll found fewer than a quarter of Britons support their return to the UK at all.