Prince Harryhas lost a legal bid to pay for his own police protection in the U.K.
The High Court in London reached a decision in Harry’s case against the British government on Tuesday following an initial hearing last week.
It forms half of the Duke of Sussex’s claim against the U.K. Home Office over the removal of his taxpayer-funded police protection, which happened when Harry, 38, and his wife,Meghan Markle, 41, stepped back from their working royal roles in January 2020.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex relocated from the U.K. to California with their sonPrince Archie, 4, shortly afterward and welcomed their daughterPrincess Lilibet, 23 months, in June 2021.
The second part of Harry’s claim against the Home Office is yet to be heard in court. It centers around a July 2022 hearing where he won the right to challenge the “procedural unfairness” of the U.K. government’s decision to strip him of his publicly-funded protection.
During the hearing, lawyers for Harry argued that he was not given the chance to make “informed representations beforehand,” reportedBBC News. A date for this hearing has yet to be arranged, added the outlet.
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Speaking at The Royal Courts of Justice in London on Tuesday, Judge Mr. Justice Chamberlain announced that he would not give Harry permission to seek a judicial review of the rejection of his offer to pay for his own police protection.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The ruling comes after Harry, 38,launched his casein September 2021. The application itself did not come to light until January 2022, however, following a leak in a UK tabloid.
A legal spokesperson for the Duke said at the time that it was “necessary to release a statement setting the facts straight” regarding Harry’s pleas for security after his claim for a judicial review was filed.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed while in the UK,” read a statement from their spokesperson. “In the absence of such protection,Prince Harryand his family are unable to return to his home.
The statement added that the Duke first offered to personally pay for UK security for himself and his family in January 2020 at Sandringham, shortly after he and Meghan announced their decision to step back from royal duties.
Prince Harry.DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty
“The goal forPrince Harryhas been simple – to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the UK so his children can know his home country,” the statement continued.
source: people.com
