On Wednesday, Prince Harry will receive the verdict on his legal battle against the UK government over the withdrawal of his taxpayer-funded protection upon stepping away from royal duties.
Departing Britain in 2020 alongside his wife Meghan, the youngest son of King Charles III eventually established residence in California, USA.
During a hearing at London’s High Court last December, the prince underscored security apprehensions hindering potential visits to the United Kingdom.
In a written statement read out by his legal representatives, Prince Harry emphasized the significance of the UK to him and his family’s heritage during court proceedings.
“The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children,” he conveyed.
Expressing concern over ensuring their safety, he stated, “That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe.”
Harry underscored his reluctance to jeopardize his wife’s safety or his own well-being, citing his life experiences. He remarked, “I cannot put my wife in danger like that and, given my experiences in life, I am reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way too.”
The tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997, as she sought to evade paparazzi photographers, profoundly influenced his perspective.
The government’s legal representatives refuted assertions that Prince Harry was unfairly targeted or received inferior treatment, emphasizing that a thorough risk assessment had been conducted.
James Eadie, representing the interior ministry, informed the court that the decision to reduce Harry’s security level stemmed from his departure from active royal duties and his predominantly overseas residency.
High Court judge Peter Lane is scheduled to announce the verdict via a written statement at 10:30 am (1030 GMT) on Wednesday.
In a separate legal endeavor in May 2023, Harry’s attempt to challenge the government’s decision denying him the option to privately fund specialized UK police protection was unsuccessful.
At that time, the interior ministry contended that it was “not appropriate” for affluent individuals to procure protective security, especially when the government deemed taxpayer-funded protection contrary to public interest.
London’s Metropolitan Police echoed this stance, opposing Harry’s proposal on the basis that it could endanger officers by deploying them at the behest of a private individual for a fee.
This legal dispute is just one among several initiated by Harry.
Earlier this month, Prince Harry resolved a protracted legal dispute with Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), alleging their journalists engaged in deceitful and unlawful practices. However, he remains committed to pursuing legal action against numerous other UK media entities.
Among these legal battles, Harry is part of a group of seven prominent figures, including Elton John, pursuing litigation against the publisher of the Daily Mail, citing allegations of illicit information gathering.
In addition to the ongoing legal actions, Prince Harry and actor Hugh Grant are jointly suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), a division of Rupert Murdoch’s expansive media conglomerate responsible for publications like The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World tabloids, for comparable allegations.
However, Harry recently opted to withdraw his libel lawsuit against the UK newspaper, the Mail on Sunday, concerning an article covering his legal disputes with the UK government.
