The Loose Women panellists had a heated debate this afternoon over Prince Harry 's fight to pay for police protection for wife Meghan Markle and their children when visiting the UK.
ITV panellist Jane Moore weighed in on the side of the Home Office and said she supported the decision to prevent Harry from paying for police protection.
LA-based Harry wants to foot the security bill himself, rather than ask taxpayers after he stepped down as a senior member of the Royal Family, but reportedly fears they will be “unable to return to his home” because it is too dangerous.
However, Jane stressed the fact it is the police, not a “private security firm” he is hoping to hire.
Kelle Bryan weighed in saying: “What choice does he have? He's got a family he feels vulnerable with.
“If he pays for his own security, they don’t have access to the intelligence the police have access to.”
Harry is now arguing his private protection team in the US does not have access to UK intelligence information which is needed to keep his wife Meghan Markle, son Archie and seven-month-old baby daughter Lilibet safe.
Jane responded saying: “You have to separate what is a perceived threat of violence and paparazzi attention. The two things are not the same.”
But Kelle said the former royals are dealing with both issues in the UK, saying “they are hated in this country”.
Jane tried to interrupt Kelle, saying: “Where is the real threat? Do you know something the security services don’t know?”
Meanwhile host Ruth Langsford disagreed with the suggestion the couple are “hated” in the UK, describing it as a “bold statement”.
Kelle replied: “I’m not saying everybody. There are some people. There’s a certain demographic of the population that feel umbrage towards them. He’s had death threats, all kinds of threats to his family.”
Jane said: “Celebrities get death threats but pay for their own private security. They don’t use state-funded royal protection officers.”
Loose Women viewers weighed in on the heated debate on social media, with most tweeting their support for Jane’s side of the argument.
One user wrote: “Sorry team Jane on this, we don’t have enough police to do day to day protection without hiring them out.”
Another said: “They are missing the point, Harry can't pay for his security because the level of Met Police security he wants isn't available to be bought. They don't want just celeb level security Kelle.”
A third wrote: “I don’t think Kelle understands that you can’t hire the police out to protect individuals.”
Another chimed: “Regarding Prince Harry debacle; well said Jane. As usual you clearly state the facts behind the situation.”
Another said the heated discussion might linger throughout the show, writing: “The tension is gonna be evident throughout the rest of the episode.”
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV
