Harry’s close friendship with protection officer raises concerns

The recent controversy that resulted from the release of Prince Harry’s naked photos has ...

11:22 28 August 2012

The recent controversy that resulted from the release of Prince Harry’s naked photos has sparked criticism over the prince’s close friendship with his police protection officers. It has been revealed that one of the prince’s longest-serving protection officers is extremely close with the prince. 

 

The officer, who was in charge of Harry’s security when Harry was partying in a private suite at the exclusive Wynn Hotel in Las Vegas where the naked photos of him were taken, was also pictured during the incident wearing sunglasses and a straw hat. He was also surrounded by girls clad in bikinis.

 

The protection officer involved has been serving the Royal Family since 1995 and has formed a close bond with the young prince. That friendship, which has Harry requesting for the said officer during his overseas trips, now comes under fire after the naked photos of the prince were released. 

 

In light of the incident, the protection officer has also deleted his Facebook page, where he used to have pictures of himself with the prince, who he calls ‘Spike’. In one of the photos, he was photographed waving a Union Jack during the Walking the Wounded expedition, which Harry participated in earlier this year. In another photo, he was shown in Okavenga Delta in Bostwana where Prince Harry went on vacation. 

 

A source said: “If Harry has a boring event, he’ll take any protection officer, but when it comes to parties and going away, he wants his no. 1 man with him because he is very much one of the boys.”