Prince Harry arrives at court in bid to overturn ruling on security
Duke of Sussex is challenging the dismissal of his action against the Home Office over his security arrangements while visiting the UK
Prince Harry has arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of an appeal in his legal challenge over his security arrangements while visiting the UK.
The Duke of Sussex arrived at the central London court on Tuesday morning and waved as he entered but did not speak to reporters gathered outside.
He is challenging the dismissal of his High Court legal action against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.
Last year, a retired High Court judge ruled that Ravec’s decision, made in early 2020 after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex quit as senior working Royals, was not irrational or procedurally unfair.
The Home Office, which has legal responsibility for the committee’s decisions, is opposing the appeal. Its lawyers previously told the High Court that decisions were taken on a “case-by-case” basis.
The Court of Appeal hearing is scheduled to begin at 10.30am on Tuesday and is due to be heard over two days, with a decision expected in writing at a later date.
Ravec has delegated responsibility from the Home Office over the provision of protective security arrangements for members of the Royal Family and others, with involvement from the Metropolitan Police, the Cabinet Office and the Royal Household.
In February 2020, the body decided that the Duke and his family should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country, after they moved to the US.
Harry took legal action the following year. In 2023, the High Court heard that an offer from Harry to pay for security had been refused.
The Duke’s lawyer’s claimed he “does not feel safe” when visiting under the new arrangements.
The Home Office’s barristers pointed to the fact that Harry was no longer a working member of the Royal Family and lived abroad most of the time in defence of its decision.
A High Court judge dismissed Harry’s claim in February last year and initially denied him permission to challenge the decision at the Court of Appeal.
But the Appeal Court gave him the ability to do so and ordered earlier this month that parts of the hearing concerning “confidential facts” should be held in private, without the press and public in attendance.
