Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, suffered a significant legal blow Friday in his ongoing court battle. He has already lost the central challenge to how much taxpayer-funded security he is entitled to while in the United Kingdom. The Court of Appeal in turn dismissed his appeal. The policy-setting Reviewing and Advisory Committee on the Police (Ravec) had determined that he no longer was eligible to receive the same level of protection as before.
This ruling follows Ravec’s decision in February 2020. Those decisions compounded during the pandemic, they decided that given the step down for Prince Harry and his wife Meghan from royal duties, Metropolitan police protection was no longer suited for them. The court’s dismissal of his claim indicates that Ravec’s assessment was lawful, despite Prince Harry’s argument that he had been “singled out” for “inferior treatment.”
Prince Harry’s legal team argued that the judge erred in her ruling. They contended that Ravec had not adhered to its own produced “terms of reference.” This omission affected the determination of the Duke’s security detail. Today, three whirlwind senior judges of the federal circuit provided the unified court’s opinion. They determined that the sense of grievance did not give them the basis for a compelling legal case to counter Ravec’s decision.
Shaheed Fatima KC, representing Prince Harry, emphasized the gravity of the situation, stating that “his safety, security and life were at stake.” She concluded by urging the decision-makers in the case to not forget the human dimension of the case. The Duke, personally “overcome with grief” over the case, went to a two-day hearing in Denver last month to make his appeal.
The Home Office vigorously opposed Ravec’s decision. As the government’s lead advocate Sir James Eadie KC pointed out, the committee was facing a “quite distinct and peculiar set of circumstances” when making its decisions. A spokesperson for the Home Office affirmed that “the UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate,” indicating confidence in the measures taken.
The ruling does give Prince Harry the option to appeal to a higher court. Before he can move there, he has to get permission to do so. Legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg noted that while there was no immediate application for permission from the Court of Appeal, Prince Harry’s lawyers could seek permission from the Supreme Court if necessary. He remarked on the specific nature of this case, stating, “It seems to me it’s one of very, very specific importance to Prince Harry.”
His recent new prominence, particularly since he disclosed in his autobiography “Spare” that he killed 25 Taliban fighters, has all raised fears for his safety. Because of this people were worried about possible threats to his life. The government intends to proceed with a bespoke protection plan for Prince Harry and family. To do this, their new strategy will be more economical than at least maintaining their safety.