Summary:
- Prince Harry challenges UK government’s 2020 decision to downgrade his police protection after stepping back from royal duties.
- His legal team cited threats from Al-Qaeda and paparazzi incidents, including a car chase in New York.
- Harry’s appeal follows a prior High Court ruling in favor of the government, which he is now contesting in the Court of Appeal.
- The case reflects ongoing tensions between the Duke of Sussex and the royal institution over security, privacy, and safety.
Detailed Report:
Prince Harry returned to London this week to attend a critical legal hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, where his legal team appealed a 2020 decision by the UK Home Office to downgrade his state-funded police protection. The prince, who stepped back from royal duties and moved to California with wife Meghan Markle in 2020, is seeking a reversal of the decision, citing personal threats and a failure by UK authorities to properly assess his risk profile.
Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, argued before the Court of Appeal that the Duke of Sussex had been treated unfairly and exposed to unjustified risks. In court submissions, Fatima highlighted specific threats, including recent calls by terrorist group Al-Qaeda to assassinate Harry, as well as the 2023 New York car chase involving Harry and Meghan, pursued by paparazzi.
The case underscores the broader friction between Harry and the royal establishment, as well as UK institutions, since the couple’s withdrawal from frontline royal duties. Their transition to the United States, according to Harry’s legal team, was in part due to perceived neglect by the monarchy in addressing safety concerns.
Dressed in a dark suit and blue tie, the Duke appeared composed but visibly engaged in the proceedings, often whispering to his solicitor and taking notes. The prince’s court presence comes despite a ruling earlier this year that the UK government acted lawfully in adjusting his protection, citing his “change of status” and permanent residence abroad.
Harry’s lawyers insist that the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), responsible for such decisions, failed to conduct a full risk assessment. They argue that the threat level to Harry remains elevated due to his public profile, military service, and past statements about his time in Afghanistan — particularly his admission in his memoir Spare to killing 25 Taliban fighters.
In contrast, the government, represented by barrister James Eadie, maintained that Harry’s new circumstances did not justify the same level of protection afforded to working royals. Eadie emphasized that security decisions would be “case-by-case”, depending on the nature of Harry’s visit to the UK.
The appeal also touches on deeply personal history. Harry has long been vocal about the trauma of losing his mother, Princess Diana, in a car crash while fleeing paparazzi in 1997. The recent events and threats have only intensified his concerns, he says, especially with two young children and a life now largely outside royal oversight.
This legal battle is one of several involving the Duke, who has also filed lawsuits against British media outlets for defamation and unlawful information gathering. His relationship with the royal family remains strained, and security issues have reportedly been a major reason behind his limited visits to the UK since 2020.
The two-day hearing is scheduled to conclude Wednesday, with certain portions held in private due to security sensitivities. A judgment from the Court of Appeal is expected in writing at a later date.
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