Princess Eugenie's protection row

Mar 15, 2010, 13:02 GMT

A former top policeman has criticised the cost of protecting Britain's Princess Eugenie.

Dai Davies, a respected former head of Britain's Scotland Yard's Royalty Protection Squad, claims the bill for looking after the safety of the princess - whose parents are Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson - while she is studying at Newcastle University is likely to be as high as £250,000 and thinks giving her round-the-clock support is unnecessary.

Dai said: "I am not aware of any evidence of any threat to Princess Eugenie. If there isn't a threat, it would appear to be a pointless exercise. It's difficult to see the justification in security terms for providing such protection 24/7."

Princess Eugenie, 19, currently receives round-the-clock protection from two full-time police bodyguards who are thought to live in a flat next door to her Newcastle residence.

Dai's comments come at a time when Sir Paul Stephenson, Commissioner of London's Metropolitan Police Service, is looking at ways he can stretch resources.

He is currently involved in negotiations with ministers about the royal protection budget, which is around £50million a year.

Buckingham Palace refused to comment on security issues concerning Eugenie.