EXCLUSIVE New security shake-up at Royal residences will see private contractors brought in to perform jobs carried out by the Met Police – amid fears it will jeopardise family’s safety

• The King is reportedly supportive of the major shake-up in the royals’ security 

A new security shake-up at Royal residences will see private contractors brought in to perform jobs carried out by the Metropolitan Police, MailOnline has learned.

But the plan, devised by the Home Office with the Royal Household and the Met, could jeopardise the safety of the Royals, say experts.

Currently, security at the Royal Palaces in London and Windsor Castle, as well as Holyrood and Balmoral in Scotland is run from a Metropolitan Police Control Room, staffed by around 150 civilian Met employees.

But in early 2025, those staff could be forced to leave the Met and instead join whichever private security firm wins the Home Office contract for the job.

No redundancy is expected to be on offer, and the only alternative will be to leave or apply for another role in the Met.

Currently, security at the Royal Palaces in London and Windsor Castle , as well as Holyrood and Balmoral in Scotland is run from a Metropolitan Police Control Room

Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana’s former police bodyguard, said he viewed the changes with concern and that they ‘increased the risk for the Royals’

The changes have been agreed by the so-called ‘Tripartite’ of the Royal Household, the Home Office and the Met, and according to an email sent to staff, ‘have been briefed to HM The King, who is supportive of this change’.

But experts have pointed out that the cost-saving measure could threaten the smooth running of the control room as sensitive police intelligence about suspect individuals posing a potential threat to the Royals cannot be shared so openly to private sector staff.

An insider told MailOnline: ‘There are significant security issues at play here because effectively the protection of Royal buildings is being classed no longer as a police function but a security one and one that can be handled by a private company.

‘Working for the Metropolitan Police, we have a direct link to armed officers so if there is an intrusion or any kind of incident which requires an armed response, we can instruct those officers immediately.

‘A private security firm just won’t have that direct link and so any incident needing armed officers will have to go through several hands. They’re creating a middleman where there currently isn’t one.

‘We also hold all the intelligence on groups like anti-monarchists which cannot be shared with a private company due to data protection.’

The current Secure Control Room monitoring security at the Royal buildings is based at Buckingham Palace, employing around 100 to 150 civilian staff monitoring CCTV and alarm systems around Royal buildings.

A new security shake-up at Royal residences will see private contractors brought in to perform jobs carried out by the Metropolitan Police

The source said the plan had ‘outraged’ civilian Met employees and armed royal protection officers alike after an email was sent to them by Chief Supt Richard Smith, head of the Metropolitan Police’s Royalty and Specialist Protection Unit.

READ MORE: Why can’t Harry understand that giving up his royal role means losing his privileges? Former Royal protection officer KEN WHARFE on Duke’s demands for security during his trips to UK

The MailOnline source added: ‘It is very worrying. There’s also a lot of outrage among warranted officers, armed officers and police civilian staff at this move as we all feel let down by the Met.

‘The force is not looking after its staff, it’s disgusting. Nobody has been offered any redundancy, it just seems as though we’re all being handed over to a private security firm in a nice, neat package.’

Ken Wharfe, Princess Diana’s former police bodyguard, said he viewed the changes with concern and that they ‘increased the risk for the Royals’.

The former royal protection Detective Inspector, who also served Princes Harry and William, said: ‘Such changes do raise the risk for the Royals and we do need to know the reason for transfer to the private sector.

‘If it’s working, which I believe it is, then leave it!

‘The cost factor seems to over-ride efficiency, and therefore the risks rise.

‘We don’t have to look any further than the death of the late Diana, Princess of Wales to see how the private sector performs.

‘She was supposedly protected by the private security of Mohamed Al Fayed, and she’d be alive today if she’d still had police protection.

‘They just do not have the expertise, or fast access to the right level of confidential information in the private sector. I don’t know any private security firm in the country which has the expertise to deal with the high level of security to protect a very important part of our national heritage.’

Ch. Supt Smith told staff in his email: ‘We know this is a decision that will have a significant impact on you, as staff in these roles have extensive experience, and are long-serving and dedicated. Security is essential for the Royal Residences, and these are historically, culturally and symbolically important places for our nation.

‘Providing security remains vital and will continue, albeit in a different way.’

He added: ‘What won’t change is the need for highly professional and effective security to protect the Royal Residences and members of the Royal Family.’

A Metropolitan Police spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘We don’t comment on matters of security’.

Buckingham Palace was approached for comment.

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