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Prince Harry recently attended a court hearing in London on April 8, as he appeals a decision that downgraded his police protection in the U.K. This is part of his legal challenge against a 2020 ruling by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC), which reduced the level of taxpayer-funded security he receives when in Britain.
Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima KC, argued that the process behind the decision was flawed and lacked transparency. She claimed that the prince was treated unfairly and differently from others, with RAVEC creating a customized arrangement for him without the necessary documentation or a clear process. She also emphasized that the decision was made without proper consultation and went against established procedures.
During the hearing, Harry’s legal team explained the reasoning behind his and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from their royal roles in 2020. Fatima told the court that the couple felt they had no choice but to step back as full-time working members of the royal family because they felt unprotected by the institution. They had hoped to continue their royal duties while living independently and supporting the late Queen Elizabeth. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced their plans in January 2020, with intentions to split their time between the U.K. and North America.
Harry’s legal team also questioned how the decision about his security was made. They pointed out that it was not discussed during a formal RAVEC meeting but was instead raised informally during a January 27, 2020, meeting at Buckingham Palace. They also argued that RAVEC did not consult the Risk Management Board (RMB), which specializes in evaluating security threats, leaving Harry’s safety inadequately reviewed.
Harry has expressed that he no longer feels safe bringing his family to the U.K. without proper police protection. His lawyers stressed that he is not asking for the same level of security he had as a working royal but is seeking a fair and consistent review process for his protection.
The couple, who now live in California with their children, Prince Archie (5) and Princess Lilibet (3), have only returned to the U.K. once since their move, during Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee in 2022.
Though Harry believes his father, King Charles, could influence the decision, royal sources have stated that security decisions are beyond the monarch’s control, with one palace source telling PEOPLE that the idea of King Charles intervening is “totally incorrect.”