Prince Harry challenges UK government over security downgrade: All you need to know about the dispute

Prince Harry appeals court ruling over UK security downgrade

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, appeared at the Court of Appeal in London as a two-day hearing began over his legal challenge concerning security arrangements.

Harry's legal team argued in court that the UK government treated him unfairly when it downgraded his taxpayer-funded security after he stepped down from his royal duties in 2020.

The Duke of Sussex is appealing a High Court decision that supported the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec)'s choice to offer him tailored security based on individual assessments, rather than ongoing, state-funded protection.

The case revolves around the decision to remove publicly funded police protection for Harry and his family during visits to the UK.

Decoding the case: Why has Prince Harry gone to court? 

The royal couple Prince Harry and Meghan got married in May 2018, they decided to step back from official duties in 2020 and moved to US.

Later on, the decision was made that Harry and Meghan would no longer be eligible for the protection while in the UK, following their decision to give up their official roles.

Harry said it was too dangerous to bring his family back to the UK without adequate police protection and took the government to court.

According to The New York Times, Harry claimed his family faced increased threats due to “additional layers of racism and extremism” and said police protection from the Metropolitan Police was essential.

However, he is not asking the public to bear the cost of this security. He wants to fund it himself while receiving the same level of protection as before.

He also suggested that the decision may have been “some form of punishment for protecting my family and putting them first” - a claim denied by the British government.

His legal representative previously said, “The UK will always be Prince Harry’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in.

“With the lack of police protection comes too great a personal risk. In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home.”

Harry launched a judicial review after the Home Office decided to revoke his publicly funded security. The initial hearing at the High Court was held in February 2022.

On February 28, 2024, retired High Court judge Peter Lane ruled against Prince Harry.

However, three months later, he was granted permission to appeal—though only on limited legal grounds. According to The New York Times, the appeal will focus specifically on whether Ravec, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, violated its own policies.

When will the verdict come? 

The hearing will be concluded on Wednesday. The Court of Appeal may issue a ruling the same day or choose to “reserve judgment,” potentially taking weeks or months before delivering a verdict, The New York Times reported.