Prince Harry has hired his former royal protection officer to keep him and Meghan safe during their European tour, following a row over the decision to strip him of taxpayer funded security.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are understood to be paying “thousands of pounds a day” for two ex-Met Police officers - including a bodyguard honoured by the Queen.
David Langdown, known as “Langers” to Harry, has worked with the 37-year-old prince for more than a decade.
He was entrusted to protect the Duke during his raucous trip to Las Vegas in 2012, where Harry was infamously pictured playing naked billiards with a stripper.
Mr Langdown, who is now working for a private security firm after retiring from the Met Police last year, also accompanied Meghan when she travelled to New York for her megabucks baby shower, paid for by her friend tennis legend Serena Williams and Amal Clooney.
Mr Langdown, who splits his time between Harry’s bases in the United States and the UK, is now understood to be working as director of American security firm Broadstone Risks, run by former Met officer Peter Miles, whose company has protected stars including Beyonce, JayZ, and Ariana Grande.
A security source told The Mirror: "Langers is the best of the best and his relationship with Harry goes back donkey’s years, but he certainly doesn't come cheap and certainly the bill will be thousands of pounds a day.
"He is very trusted by Harry so it is no surprise he is back by his side to take care of him and Meghan considering he splits his time equally between America and the UK.”
Prince Harry is currently locked in a bitter legal battle with the Home Office at the High Court over the decision by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) to take away his police protection after he quit the royal family in 2020.
Harry claims the decision was “personal” after discovering the Queen’s trusted private secretary, Sir Edward Young, also advised on the decision to remove his protected status after he chose to quit The Firm.
The Duke also revealed in court how he requested to pay privately for specialist Met Police protection when in the country, after claiming it is “too dangerous” to visit the UK.
Harry has now been granted the right to a judicial review over the decision.
The Duke was all smiles today as he charmed German fans by trying his hand at the language and praising the local beer during the latest leg of his mini-European tour with Meghan.
They jetted into Dusseldorf to mark the one-year countdown to the city hosting the 2023 Invictus Games, the Paralympic-style event for servicemen and women founded by the prince.
The pair, who have reportedly been guarded by a “ring of steel” at recent engagements, signed a special guestbook known as the Golden Book, also signed by the Queen during a visit to Dusseldorf in the 1960s.
Mr Langdown was pictured alongside Meghan as she spoke to fans during a walkabout outside the town hall.
Harry said he was "filled with such excitement" at the thought of the next Invictus Games having the backdrop of the River Rhine, adding: "I can't wait to hear the roar of the crowds, to feel the adrenalin of the competition and join in on the laughter and even the tears, happy ones of course, while we get to witness lives being changed right before our eyes."
The atmosphere was distinctly different to their arrival at the One Young World Summit in Manchester on Monday, where they were greeted with boos and protestors waving a sign labelling them “Fake Royals”.
Mr Langdown was seen ushering the couple into a waiting car at the city’s plush Kimpton, as well as being seen in passenger seat of the couple’s electric Range Rover leaving their Frogmore Cottage home before travelling to London’s Euston station to catch a train to the north west.
The top of the range car was also driven by another man, who is believed to have recently left Scotland Yard having worked in diplomatic protection.
In January this year he was given an honour by the Queen - the Royal Victorian Medal - for services to the Royal Family.
After Harry and Meghan quit their royal roles in 2020 Mr Langdown took a job guarding London Mayor Sadiq Khan, before his recent retirement.
Meanwhile, Meghan today expressed her frustration at being told a "million times over" that she was lucky Harry had chosen her when they became engaged.
The former TV actress branded the comments gendered and stereotyped, and said Harry had "countered the narrative" by saying: "They've got it all wrong. I'm the lucky one because you chose me."
Meghan said "everyone" made the remarks, but gave no further attribution.
Harry and Meghan are understood not to have made arrangements to see the Queen, who is staying on her Balmoral estate in Scotland.
The couple, who are not travelling with their two children Archie, three and Lilibet, one, are due to attend the WellChild charity awards on Thursday before jetting home to California.
