Prince Harry has lost his appeal against the U.K. government’s decision to remove his publicly funded security. This ruling came after he stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States. The Court of Appeal unanimously decided that the committee responsible for his security had not treated him unfairly.
Justice Geoffrey Vos stated in a 21-page judgment that while Harry felt mistreated, his feelings alone were not enough to legally challenge the decision. He noted that the Duke of Sussex has been provided with a different level of protection since moving abroad, which is a consequence of his choice to step back from royal responsibilities.
The ruling means Harry may face significant legal costs, as he will likely have to pay both the U.K. government’s legal fees and his own. It is unclear if he will take his case to the U.K. Supreme Court.
This decision upholds a previous High Court ruling that found the security arrangements for Harry were lawful and justified. During the appeal hearing, Harry’s lawyer argued that his life was at risk and that the Royal and VIP Executive Committee had treated him unfairly. They pointed to specific threats, including a document from Al-Qaeda that suggested his assassination would please Muslims, and a recent incident where he and his wife, Meghan, were pursued by paparazzi in New York.
Harry and Meghan stepped back from their official roles in 2020, citing a lack of protection from the royal institution. Since then, a committee ruled that there was no basis for providing them with publicly funded security in the U.K. Harry has expressed concerns about safety while visiting his home country, highlighting the hostility aimed at him and Meghan on social media and from the press.
In previous legal battles, Harry has had mixed results. He lost a case where he sought permission to privately fund police protection, with a judge stating that police should not serve as private bodyguards for wealthy individuals. However, he did achieve a significant victory against the Daily Mirror, which involved a finding of widespread phone hacking.
As he navigates these challenges, the situation remains tense for Harry, who continues to seek a balance between his public life and personal safety.