Due to their power, influence, wealth, and fame, the British royal family has access to some of the finest and most glamorous places on Earth, and the higher-ranking family members are typically treated like celebrities. As a result, the members of their 24/7 security teams also have access to those places, getting to travel all over the world and eat high-level cuisine as part of their job. However, as cool as that may be, it’s not always fun, because they’re still very much at work.
Simon Morgan told Business Insider that, while his time as a royal protection officer was significantly more posh than his time as a regular police officer chasing criminals in less-than-royal neighborhoods, he didn’t really have the opportunity to luxuriate in the atmosphere. Besides the need to constantly keep watching your principal even if you’re eating fancy food, it’s crucial to remember that these nice cars and yacht parties are your principal’s life, not yours.
Some protection officers became the subject of scandal in 2012 when, while on a trip to Las Vegas with Prince Harry, they became so distracted by partying that they didn’t stop other party guests from taking nude photos of Harry (playing strip billiards, naturally), that then got leaked to the press. Additionally, officers who indulge in such celebrity fantasies can become vulnerable to blackmail and other forms of manipulation, creating a security risk themselves.
