Prince Harry Fights UK Government in Court Over Security Downgrade

Prince Harry is set to challenge the UK government at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday over its decision to downgrade his personal security during visits to Britain.

The legal dispute stems from a 2020 ruling by the interior ministry that Harry, who stepped down from royal duties and relocated to California with his wife Meghan Markle, would no longer receive the same level of publicly funded security as working royals. 

The 40-year-old royal previously lost a High Court case on the matter and was ordered to pay nearly £1 million in legal fees. However, a judge later granted him permission to appeal.

Harry has argued that reduced security puts his family at risk and limits his ability to return home. “The UK is my home,” he stated in court filings. “That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe.”

His mother, Princess Diana, died in a high-speed car crash in Paris in 1997 while fleeing paparazzi—an experience Harry has cited in voicing his concerns.

The Court of Appeal has said parts of this week’s hearing will be held in private for security reasons. It is unclear whether Harry will attend in person, though the hearing coincides with the launch of Meghan’s new podcast, Confessions of a Female Founder.

Government lawyers have argued that Harry’s protection should be assessed “on a case-by-case basis” given his changed status.

Separately, Harry is also embroiled in a dispute involving the African charity he co-founded, Sentebale. The UK’s Charity Commission is investigating following allegations of bullying and cover-ups, which Harry has strongly denied, calling them “blatant lies.”