Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly seething over what they perceive as a "double standard" after Princess Catherine's sister, Pippa Middleton, was granted permission to bolster security around her sprawling Berkshire estate. The reported frustration comes as the Duke of Sussex continues his years-long fight over security arrangements for himself and his family when traveling to the UK.
Pippa Middleton's Security Upgrade
Pippa, 42, her husband, hedge fund manager James Matthews, 50, and their three children live at Barton Court, a lavish $32 million estate set across 145 acres in Berkshire. In a bid to protect their family, the couple installed large electric security gates across a driveway that has become the center of a dispute with local walkers seeking public access.
During a recent inquiry into the matter, Matthews defended the security measures, citing the family's public profile as relatives of the future King and Queen. "There are implications for my family, due to their high public profile, which means there is a need for a higher level of security than would otherwise be the case if the circumstances were different," Matthews said. "Therefore, to improve security for my family, before we moved in, I arranged for an electric security gate to be erected on the drive."
Matthews said the family's security concerns had not eased over time. "Unfortunately there has been a continued need to enhance security," he revealed, noting that the gates were upgraded last summer and remain closed.
Sussexes' Alleged Frustration
According to a source based in Montecito, the Sussexes are not upset about the gates themselves, but about what they reportedly view as a stark contrast between the response to Pippa's security concerns and Harry's ongoing battle for protection in Britain. Since stepping back from royal duties in 2020 and relocating to California, Harry, 41, and Meghan, 44, have repeatedly challenged the UK's decision to downgrade their taxpayer-funded security arrangements.
"Harry and Meghan have no issue with Pippa and James being allowed to have this gate – if they feel they need protection, they should have it," a source told Radar Online. "What infuriates Meghan and Harry is the double standard."
The security dispute remains one of the Duke's most contentious issues with the British establishment. Harry has argued that the reduced protection leaves his family vulnerable during visits to the UK. While he has returned several times on solo trips, Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, have not visited Britain since 2022.
Legal Challenges and Unresolved Issues
In May 2025, Harry lost his legal challenge against the British government over the level of security provided to him and his family. He later requested that the Home Secretary review the decision-making process used by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), with the matter still unresolved.
The Montecito source claimed Harry believes he has been unfairly criticized for seeking additional protection. "He (Harry) has been treated as though he's totally out of bounds and shouldn't dare ask for so-called special treatment," the source claimed. "Yet, the palace reaction to Pippa and James seemingly asking for special treatment has been the opposite. No one is raising a fuss about them taking advantage."
The issue has long been a source of tension for Harry, who has previously suggested his father, King Charles III, could intervene in the matter. Buckingham Palace has consistently maintained that decisions regarding royal security fall within the remit of RAVEC and the courts, not the monarch.
