28 February 2024 , 13:55
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Prince Harry has lost a High Court challenge against the Home Office over the level of his security protection when he is in the UK.
Harry had been trying to overturn a ruling which saw his security status downgraded after he stopped being a "working royal". Hours after the announcement, the Duke revealed he plans to appeal the decision. Following High Court ruling, details of Harry's case have been made public - including his fears for his family when he visits Britain.
In his 51-page, partially redacted summary, retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane refers to a letter sent from the Duke's private secretary to Sir Mark Sedwill, the Cabinet Secretary. The correspondence expressed the Duke's "disbelief that such important conversations were being had without any attempt by anyone to consult (him)."
Highlighting Harry's fears when travelling to the UK, the extract reads: "The claimant could not see how he could have his security removed, unless the current risk to him and his family had decreased, [redacted text]. The claimant asked who would be willing to put him and his family in a position of extreme vulnerability and risk – 'a position that no one was willing to put my mother in 23 years ago – and yet today, with greater risk, as mentioned above, with the additional layers of racism and extremism, someone is comfortable taking accountability for what could happen."
It continues: "As well as the claimant's biggest concern being [redacted text], he believed that it was 'essential to our safety to keep MET security, [redacted text]'.... The claimant considered that the decision was being imposed upon him 'without a sensible amount of consultation as some form of punishment for protecting my family and putting them first'.
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"He suggested a 6-12 month review in order to establish sensible protection measures so that this new model was given a better chance of success. He would like 'to see a full report of the current risk matrix please, and the justification that countries outside of the UK somehow change the international threat to us'."
Much of the legal proceedings surrounding the case, which covered security arrangements for senior figures, were held in private in December, with the ruling issued by retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane on Wednesday morning.
In the ruling, Mr Lane rejected the Duke's case, finding that there had not been any unlawfulness in reaching the decision to downgrade Prince Harry's security status, and that any departure from policy was justified.
This could have implications for the Duke's future visits to the UK since he previously argued that the lower level of security has made it difficult to bring his family to the country.
In December, when the challenge was made, Home Office lawyers told the High Court that Harry would still have publicly-funded police security, but these would be "bespoke arrangements, specifically tailored to him", rather than the automatic security provided for full-time working royals.
Last year, Prince Harry lost a legal bid to be allowed to make private payments for police protection when he was visiting the UK, in a case that also focused on concerns about reduced security since ceasing to be a full-time working royal.