Prince Harry Sues UK Government for Police Protection

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has launched a claim against the UK Home Office for refusing to allow him to pay for police protection for his family.

The Duke's wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Archie and Lilibet, currently reside in the United States.

However, when they visit the UK, Prince Harry wants access to police security.

The High Court held the first hearing of the case on Friday at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.

This marks the first time a member of the royal family has brought a lawsuit against the government of Harry's grandmother, Queen Elizabeth.

During the two-hour hearing, the court heard an application by both sides for some parts of the court documents in the case to be kept private.

Prince Harry's lawyer revealed that the Duke still holds the UK very close to his heart.

He expressed his desire to return to England to see his family and friends, as well as visit his beloved charities and associations through his lawyer.

The Duke has launched a claim for a judicial review of the Home Office's decision not to allow him to pay for police protection while he and his family are in the UK.

Speaking at the hearing, Harry's attorney, Shahid Fatima, expressed the Duke's concerns over the security arrangements put in place when he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in January 2020.

Following their announcement, Harry and Meghan lost their public-funded protection in the UK and have privately paid for their own security in the US.

They were also later told that they could not pay for UK police protection out of their own pockets.

This means that if Harry and his wife return to the UK with son Archie Harrison, 2, and daughter Lilibet Diana, 8 months, they will not be entitled to state-funded protection and the deep level of security intelligence that comes with it.

Fatima said at the Royal Courts of Justice, “This claim is about the fact that the claimant does not feel safe when he is in the UK, given the security arrangements that were applied to him in June 2021 and will continue to be applied to him if he decides to come back.”

The lawyer added, “Most of all, this is and always will be his home.”

Prince Harry's concerns are believed to date back to his most recent visit to the UK last July, when he joined brother Prince William for the unveiling of a statue to their late mother, Princess Diana, in the gardens of Kensington Palace.

After a later charity event, Prince Harry's car was reportedly chased by photographers through the streets of the British capital.

In September, Harry decided to address the issue by applying for a judicial review of the security arrangements, a legal challenge to the lawfulness of decisions taken by a public body.

Friday's hearing represents the initial stages of this process and may lead to lengthier court proceedings.

Currently, in the royal family, only the Queen, Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge receive 24-hour police protection.

Other working royals such as Princess Anne, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, only receive estate protection when they carry out official engagements.

Meanwhile, the Queen's grandchildren, including Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice, and Princess Eugenie, do not receive any government-funded protection at all, while Prince Andrew lost his own right to protection when he stepped back from royal duties in November 2019.

In past months, Harry has been tipped to return for a number of key occasions.

Last September, it was claimed he wanted to hold the christening of his daughter, Lilibet Diana, born in June at Windsor.

The Duke has also been tipped for a UK return next month, when the royal family is to gather at Westminster Abbey for a service of thanksgiving in the run-up to the first anniversary of the death of the Duke of Edinburgh.

Another key reason why Prince Harry may want to return back to the UK with his family this year is the Platinum Jubilee.

The Queen's historic year started on February 6th, the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne.

But the firm and the country will come together to properly celebrate this milestone during a long bank holiday weekend in June, during which royals are expected to appear together on the Buckingham Palace balcony and attend a service at St Paul's Cathedral, among other engagements.