Susanna Reid clashed with her co-star Kevin Maguire on Good Morning Britain just minutes into her return to the show on Monday (July 6). The ITV host, back after a lengthy absence for a 'special project', was joined by co-host Ed Balls and panellists Kwasi Kwarteng and the Mirror's Kevin Maguire to discuss Prince Harry's forthcoming visit to the UK.
Prince Harry's solo UK trip sparks security debate
The Duke of Sussex is expected to travel to the UK alone this week, without his wife Meghan Markle or their two children. The visit follows confirmation that the family would not receive taxpayer-funded police protection. Reid expressed frustration, stating: 'I think it's shocking. I don't understand why he is not given protection in England.'
Kevin Maguire strongly disagreed, arguing: 'They make a security assessment and the assessment is clearly that no one is going to try and shoot him or his family.' When Reid pressed, 'Do we know that?' Maguire responded: 'Well, yes because otherwise he'd have protection. He's living in a country where people are killed in their thousands with guns. He's coming to a country where that doesn't happen.'
Reid: 'He's the son of the King'
Reid fired back: 'He's in a country where he knows that he has been sent threats and particularly Meghan. Why would we take the risk? He's the son of the King!' Kwasi Kwarteng then said: 'He's trying to have his cake and eat it. He left the Royal Family, he decided to walk away from that.' Reid interjected: 'Doesn't mean he's not under threat, Kwasi... We're talking about protecting a life.'
Ed Balls noted that Prince Harry is accustomed to armed protection in the US, but would only be able to access this in the UK through the Metropolitan Police, which requires a formal assessment.
Maguire: Harry is 'incredibly precious or horribly paranoid'
Maguire continued: '40% of the population in the UK doesn't own a gun. In America, I think it's two fifths [that] own guns, including just about every bad person; they own multiple guns.' He argued that Harry is no more at risk than the Chancellor of the Exchequer, who travels without armed protection. Reid rejected this, saying: 'I don't understand why anyone would take the risk. Imagine if the worst happened.'
Maguire replied: 'You can imagine the worst happening to 65, 66 million people in Britain who are more vulnerable and don't have any of his protection. I mean, come on. He's either become incredibly precious or he's horribly paranoid. That is it. I'm sorry he's not bringing his family, but it's up to them. I'm not going to lose any sleep over them not all coming.'
He concluded: 'I don't see why we should have to, just because he feels at risk, [give him] all this protection.' Shortly after, Reid swiftly changed the subject. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 6am.
