Prince Harry has encountered a new setback in his legal battle for publicly funded security while in the U.K. A recent ruling from the Court of Appeal upheld a prior decision to withdraw his automatic police protection, a security measure traditionally provided to royal family members. The former prince lost this round after previously contesting a similar decision that occurred after he stepped down from royal duties in 2020.
During a two-day hearing last month, Harry's legal team argued that this withdrawal of security caused "inferior treatment" for him and his family, raising safety concerns for him, Meghan, and their children. They claimed this decision was unlawful and breached established policies concerning royal security. A committee responsible for such decisions, known as the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), had determined that Harry’s offers to fund his protection were inappropriate, citing worries that private contributions could diminish the availability of specialized police officers trained for royal protection.
Harry commenced this legal fight in September 2021, seeking a restoration of his previous protections. While he lost earlier challenges in 2023 and February 2024, he did receive permission to appeal on specific legal grounds regarding procedural policy violations. In the meantime, he has made several trips to the U.K. for events like Queen Elizabeth II's funeral and King Charles III's coronation, each requiring separate applications for protection.
While fighting this case, Harry is concurrently engaged in another legal dispute against the Daily Mail for alleged unlawful information gathering, with hearings scheduled for next week.
