Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has lost a High Court challenge against the UK government over his security status while in the country. The court ruled that there was nothing unlawful in the decision to downgrade his security when he stopped being a working royal. Prince Harry argued that he had been treated unfairly and faced significant security threats. His lawyers stated that he was not asking for preferential treatment but believed there had been an unfairness in how decisions were made about his publicly-funded police protection.
When Prince Harry stepped back from being a working royal and moved to the US, he was no longer automatically provided with the same level of police protection given to the Royal Family. Instead, his security was decided on a case-by-case basis, similar to other high-profile visitors to the UK. Prince Harry’s attempt to challenge this decision has been rejected, with the court upholding the actions of the committee responsible for security arrangements for the Royal Family and other public figures.
The judge ruled that there was no unlawfulness or irrationality in the changes to Prince Harry’s security. Even if there had been any procedural unfairness, it would not have changed the outcome. The court documents revealed concerns about Prince Harry’s safety, including an incident where he was “ambushed” by paparazzi photographers at a WellChild awards event in London in June 2021. This incident was particularly alarming considering what happened to his mother, Princess Diana.
The ruling also supported Prince Harry and Meghan’s account of being pursued by paparazzi after an awards event in New York City in May 2023. The court documents included reports from the New York City Police Department, highlighting the reckless behavior of paparazzi. The extent of planning for each of Prince Harry’s visits to the UK was also revealed, emphasizing the risk factors involved.
In response to the court ruling, the Home Office welcomed the decision and stated that the UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. Prince Harry’s lawyers plan to pursue an appeal, arguing that the committee failed to apply its own rules and rejecting the “bespoke” approach.
While Prince Harry has faced legal battles over his security in the UK, his concerns about safety for himself and his family have been evident. The court documents shed light on the risks he faces and the measures taken to ensure his protection during visits to the country. Despite the outcome of this challenge, Prince Harry remains determined to seek justice through the Court of Appeal.
In a separate development, Prince Harry released a video supporting awards for children facing complex health needs. The video was in support of the WellChild awards, which were mentioned in the court case regarding the paparazzi threat in 2021.