Prince Harry loses legal challenge over his personal police protection in Britain
Prince Harry on Wednesday lost his legal challenge against the British government’s decision to remove his police protection while he was in Britain.
King Charles’ younger son Harry took action against the government in the High Court in London in February 2020 after the Home Office – the ministry responsible for policing – decided that he would stop automatically receiving personal police protection while in Britain. Will give.
Before stepping back from his royal duties in March 2020 and moving to California with his American wife Meghan, Harry, along with other senior royals, had received full publicly-funded security protection provided by the state.
After being granted judicial review of that decision, his lawyers said at a hearing in December that the decision to withdraw it resulted in him facing unlawful, unfair and unreasonable treatment.
But the government’s legal team said the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, had not made a decision that Harry should not receive security, but on the same grounds he should not. Should be found.
The High Court agreed, concluding that there was no illegality in the decision.
A spokesperson said, “We are pleased that the court has decided in favor of the government’s position in this case and we are carefully considering our next steps. It would be inappropriate to comment further.” Proportional”.
Harry was last in Britain earlier this month when he visited his father after it was revealed that the king had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer.
The prince, who has been estranged from his family since moving to the US, has said he hopes Charles’ illness will bring the family closer together.
Wednesday’s decision marks his second legal defeat on the issue of his security, since the High Court ruled against him in a separate challenge against the government’s refusal to pay him for his police protection.
The prince has often spoken about his fears for his family’s safety, and has regularly attacked press intrusion, which he blames for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed when she The limousine crashed while being chased by the paparazzi. In 1997 in Paris.
Britain’s former counter-terrorism police chief said credible threats were made against the couple by right-wing extremists last year.
The decision comes as the government announced on Wednesday an extra 31 million pounds ($39 million) to provide new security provisions amid growing concerns over the safety of MPs and other officials.