London, (EFE).- The United Kingdom’s Court of Appeal on Friday dismissed Prince Harry’s legal challenge against the British government regarding the level of taxpayer-funded police protection he receives when visiting the country.
The ruling marks a new legal setback for the Duke of Sussex in his ongoing dispute over security arrangements since stepping back from official royal duties in 2020 and relocating to the United States with his wife Meghan Markle.
“After reviewing the detailed documentation, we concluded that the sense of grievance does not, in itself, amount to a legal ground for challenging the decision,” said Judge Geoffrey Vos, one of three justices who heard the appeal.
The decision in question was made by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), the government body responsible for determining security for public figures.
The judges noted that Harry and Meghan had effectively moved in and out of RAVEC’s protective system, depending on their presence in the UK.
“While outside the country, he was not part of the system. When in the UK, his security was deemed appropriate,” the court said.
“It is impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or improper. In fact, it appeared sensible,” the ruling added, describing the decision by RAVEC as “understandable, and perhaps predictable.”
Although Prince Harry did not attend the hearing, Judge Vos acknowledged that his legal arguments were “powerful and moving” and that it was “clear he felt mistreated by the system.”
The lawsuit stems from the government’s decision to downgrade Harry’s security level after he and Meghan stepped back from their senior royal roles in early 2020.
The couple stated they wished to remain working of the royal family on a privately funded basis, but their departure meant a significant change in status.
At hearings held in April, the British government argued it was not appropriate to provide Harry with the same level of publicly funded police protection as when he lived full-time in the UK.
The Home Office insisted that security decisions were based on risk assessments and status, not personal preference.
Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, argued that the couple had been “forced to give up their official roles and continued to the late Queen Elizabeth II in a private capacity.
She maintained that the security downgrade exposed them to serious risks, especially during public visits to the UK.
The couple now reside in California, where they live with their two children.
Prince Harry, 40, has since launched multiple legal actions in the UK, targeting media outlets and government bodies over issues ranging from privacy to security.
In a separate case earlier this year, the prince settled with News Group Newspapers (NGN), part of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire, over phone hacking and other unlawful intrusions into his private life.
The agreement, reached in January, included a “substantial” financial settlement and marked the first time the company formally acknowledged illegal activity involving the Duke of Sussex. EFE
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