Prince Harry's security overhauled after chilling kidnap threat emerges

Prince Harry’s gap year in Argentina has been shaken by kidnapping plot.

Newly unveiled National Archives documents have shed light on a chilling kidnapping plot targeting Prince Harry during his 2004 gap year in Argentina. 

The 20-year-old royal was staying at a polo ranch near Buenos Aires when gunshots rang out close to his residence, triggering a major shake-up in royal security protocols for overseas visits.

The shocking plot came to light when a murder suspect from the Argentine underworld tipped off local authorities about plans to abduct the prince. 

Cabinet Office records reveal the trip was officially billed as part of Harry’s “ongoing education,” though it turned into a high-stakes security crisis.

The incident prompted an urgent review of how royals are protected abroad, underscoring the challenges of balancing a young prince’s thirst for adventure with the need for heightened vigilance.

Prince Harry’s 2004 gap year took a dramatic turn when his stay at the El Remanso polo ranch, 60 miles from Buenos Aires, became the center of a kidnapping plot. 

In the wake of the shots, the Argentine Security Ministry deployed 15 armed officers to patrol the ranch’s perimeter. 

Tensions escalated further when police fired warning shots into the air after hearing gunfire nearby, underscoring the seriousness of the threat.

The incident led to an urgent Cabinet Office meeting back in the UK, where royal security protocols for overseas visits were scrutinized and revamped. 

Officials mandated that the Metropolitan Police seek specific advice on kidnapping risks in countries visited by the Royal Family.