Prince Harry Loses Appeal Over UK Security Protection

Prince Harry has lost his legal appeal challenging the UK government’s decision to withdraw publicly funded police protection for him when visiting the country, following his decision to step back from royal duties and relocate to the United States.

The Court of Appeal ruled unanimously on Friday that Harry was not treated unfairly when a government committee decided his security would be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The decision upholds a previous ruling by the High Court, which found that the tailored security arrangement was lawful and reasonable.

The ruling leaves the Duke of Sussex, 40, facing significant legal costs, including the government’s fees in addition to his own.

Harry had argued that the current system exposed him and his family to undue risk. His lawyers cited serious threats, including an al-Qaida mention of him as a target and a high-profile paparazzi chase in New York involving him and his wife, Meghan. His legal team claimed the “bespoke” security process was manifestly inferior to what other high-profile individuals receive.

“There is a person sitting behind me who is being told he is getting a special bespoke process when he knows and has experienced a process that is manifestly inferior in every respect,” attorney Shaheed Fatima said during the two-day appeal hearing in April.

Government lawyers countered that Harry’s arguments were flawed and had already failed in earlier proceedings. Attorney James Eadie accused the prince’s team of misrepresenting the facts and ignoring the broader context of the case.

Harry and Meghan stepped down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020, citing a lack of institutional support and concerns for their safety. Following their departure, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee ruled that there was no basis for providing publicly funded protection during their visits to the UK.

Harry previously lost a related legal bid to pay privately for UK police protection. A judge ruled that allowing the wealthy to hire police services could set a dangerous precedent.

Despite this legal setback, Harry has secured court victories in his ongoing battle with the British tabloid press. In 2023, he won a case against the Daily Mirror for phone hacking, and earlier this year received an apology and damages from Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloids for years of invasive reporting. He still has an active lawsuit pending against the publisher of the Daily Mail.

It remains unclear whether Prince Harry will seek to escalate the case to the UK Supreme Court.