Prince Harry has lost a prolonged legal battle with the British government regarding his security detail, according to a ruling by the High Court. The court ruled in favor of the government on Wednesday. Harry’s security had been downgraded after he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from their royal duties in 2020. The decision follows years of contention since the government revoked top-level police officer security details that would ordinarily be provided to full-time working Royalty.
Harry asserted that the reduced level of security in the UK jeopardized the safety of his family. However, the court found no unlawful or unfair processes in the decision. According to the court documents, the judges deemed the downgrade as reasonable and legal. They endorsed an alternative security detail plan for Prince Harry when he is in the UK, which would be less formal than the usual royal security provisions.
Despite this loss, a spokesperson for Prince Harry confirmed he intends to appeal the decision. The Prince had previously lost another appeal where he argued for the opportunity to pay for high-level police protection, which was also denied by the court. The repeated refusals by the legal system imply that the Prince, having renounced his royal role, should not expect royal treatment in terms of security.
