PTI

London, Mar 16: The security cover for Britain's Princes William and Harry has been stepped up over fears that IRA terrorists are plotting to assassinate the royals, a news report said on Sunday.

Scotland Yard fears the Princes, who are officers in the British Army, are prize targets for Irish Republican Army (IRA). The number of close protection officers guarding the two royals on each shift has been increased, Britain's Sunday Express reported today.

The threat level has been upgraded following the murders of two soldiers and a police officer in Northern Ireland.

"The Princes are regarded as legitimate targets by these madmen. The number of royalty protection officers has been increased from two to three and they are being reinforced by a back-up team of two," a source within the security services was quoted as saying by the Express.

"No risks are being taken. William and Harry like to get about in London when they are not on duty and that makes them vulnerable," the source said.

Princes' bodyguards and the security agencies are concerned that even with heightened threat William, 26, and Harry, 24, want to live as normal as possible.

The tightening of royal security comes as police hunting the gunmen who killed two British soldiers at Massereene barracks in Antrim last Saturday arrested three men yesterday, the report said.