The Duke of Sussex, 40, has battled the issue for some time now. He appeared in court in London in April. He has been appealing a decision to strip him of his full high-level security.
RAVEC (Royal and VIP Executive Committee) previously made the decision to downgrade his security after he and wife Meghan Markle stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020.
However, the latest verdict is now in and Prince Harry has lost his battle for taxpayer-funded armed police bodyguards when he and his family visit the UK.
Prince Harry loses latest legal battle over his security
On Friday (May 2), the Court of Appeal found against Harry. This means security paid for by the British taxpayer will not be reinstated for Harry, wife Meghan Markle and their two children when they visit the UK.
As reported by the BBC, three senior judges at the Court of Appeal have rejected Harry’s appeal.
Prince Harry has since sat down to speak with BBC News on Friday. He admitted he “would love a reconciliation” with the royal family.
Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.
Harry said: “I can’t see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the UK. They’re going to miss everything, I love my country. I miss the UK, I miss parts of the UK.
“It’s sad I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.”
The duke said “ultimately this whole thing could be resolved” through his father, King Charles – who continues to undergo treatment for cancer.
Prince Harry says he wants to reconcile with royal family in BBC interview
Harry went on to say that there has been “some differences and disagreements with some members of my family”.
He said: “This current situation, which has been ongoing for five years with regard to human life and safety, is the sticking point.
“Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. But I would love reconciliation with my family.
“There’s no point in continuing to fight any more. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has.
“He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.”
Harry said he has “now found out the truth”. He added it would be “nice to have that reconciliation part now”.
Why did Prince Harry lose his security?
In April, Prince Harry attended hearings surrounding the British government’s choice to strip him of high-level security protection. It came after he gave up his role as a working royal in 2020.
Moving away from royal duties meant Harry would no longer have automatic blanket personal protection, provided by British police.
The decision ruled that security would instead be surveyed on a bespoke, case-by-case basis. A move that Prince Harry was not satisfied with.
During a court appearance on April 8, Harry’s lawyer claimed that he and Meghan Markle felt as though they were “forced” to walk away from royal life due to their lack of security.
Prince Harry’s High Court appeal
In a written submission read out in court, a barrister for Harry said: “On 8 January 2020, (the duke) and his wife felt forced to step back from the role of full time official working members of the royal family as they considered they were not being protected by the institution, but they wished to continue their duties in support of the late queen as privately funded members of the royal family.”
They then added that it was ruled that “there is no basis for publicly funded security support for the duke and duchess within Great Britain”.
There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake.
Then, Harry’s attorney Shaheed Fatima explained that a lack of protection of Harry threatens his life.
“One mustn’t forget the human dimension to this case. There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake,” Fatima said.
“There’s a person sitting behind me who’s been told he’s getting a special bespoke process when he knows and has experienced a process that is manifestly inferior.”
Who pays for Prince Harry’s security?
The British taxpayer funds the security that protects the royal family. Since moving overseas, Prince Harry and Meghan have relied upon a privately funded security team.
Harry has taken legal action over the decision made by RAVEC over the level of protection he should receive when in the UK.
The High Court previously heard that his “status” had changed. This was a result of him no longer being a “full-time working member of the royal family”.
Prince Harry then argued that his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, cannot “feel at home” or “safe” in the UK unless police protection is put in place.
