UNITED KINGDOM – Prince Harry has lost his legal challenge against the British government’s decision to deny him automatic police security in the UK, following his decision to step back from royal duties.
The Duke of Sussex had sought to overturn a ruling by the Home Office, which decided in February 2020 that he would no longer receive personal police protection while in Britain.
The case, which has drawn significant attention, was initially ruled on last year by the High Court in London, which deemed the decision lawful.
This ruling was reaffirmed by three senior judges at the Court of Appeal, who acknowledged Harry’s understandable grievance but stated that it did not constitute a legal error in the original decision.
Judge Geoffrey Vos, delivering the ruling, expressed understanding of Harry’s feelings of being mistreated but emphasized that this emotional response did not translate into a valid legal argument against the decision.
“The Duke’s sense of grievance does not provide grounds for challenging the Home Office’s decision,” Vos stated.
During the hearing in April, Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, argued that the Duke had been unjustly singled out, citing threats against his life, including a recent al-Qaeda call for his murder, and an incident in 2023 where Harry and his wife Meghan were pursued by paparazzi in a dangerous car chase in New York City.
Fatima stressed the “human dimension” of the case, emphasizing Harry’s safety and security.
Despite these arguments, the government’s legal team defended its decision, asserting that the bespoke security arrangements offered to Harry had positive benefits, particularly from a security perspective.
Harry, who now lives in California with Meghan and their children, attended the hearings in person, underscoring the personal significance of the case.
