Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, suffered a further legal setback after the High Court had rejected his appeal against the British government’s decision to downgrade his taxpayer-funded security during visits to the UK.
The ruling, delivered on Friday, upholds a judgment that deemed the Home Office’s “case-by-case” risk assessment process lawful following Harry’s departure from royal duties in 2020.
Prince Harry argued that the removal of automatic, state-funded protection – including armed officers and access to intelligence networks – left him and his family vulnerable during UK visits. Private security teams, he contended, lack the authority to intercept threats or coordinate with national agencies.
“The UK is my home. I want my children to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US,” Harry told the court in December 2023, emphasising concerns over their safety given his high-profile status and historical targeting by media intrusion.
The court, however, ruled that the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) acted lawfully in tailoring security based on Harry’s non-working royal status. Since relocating to California in 2020, his security requests are evaluated per visit, often supplemented by private guards.
Despite the ruling, Harry has returned to Britain multiple times, including for Queen Elizabeth II’s 2022 funeral and King Charles III’s 2023 coronation, with RAVEC approving state protection for both events. Each trip requires a formal security application, a process the Duke’s legal team claims is inconsistent and opaque.
The High Court permitted Harry’s appeal in March 2024 solely on grounds that RAVEC may have breached procedural fairness, but Friday’s dismissal closes this avenue. Justice Sir Peter Lane noted the committee’s lawful approach.
The Duke continues another High Court battle against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, alleging illegal information gathering through phone hacking and covert surveillance. A two-day hearing in this separate claim is scheduled for next week.
