All information is correct at the time of writing and may be updated as the story develops
Prince Harry was temporarily back in the U.K. to attend a two-day appeal hearing in relation to his private security being taken away when he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals in 2020.
Prince Harry and Meghan stepping down as working royals over five years ago meant that their taxpayer-funded police protection was also withdrawn, which was a decision made by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC.) Prince Harry first challenged the move back in 2021 and has been appealing it ever since, arguing that he and his family still face significant threats.
Prince Harry's Lawyer Said His 'Life Is At Stake'
The Duke of Sussex, 40, has made it very clear that he won't return to the U.K. with wife Meghan, 43, and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, until they have their private security reinstated, due to his constant fears for his family's safety.
His lawyer, Shaheed Fatima KC, touched on this during an emotional plea at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London on Wednesday, April 9th, telling the court: "One must not forget the human dimension of this case. There is a person who is sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake."
"There is a person sitting behind me who's been told he is getting a special bespoke process when he knows in his experience it is a process that is manifestly inferior in every sense," Fatima continued.
Prince Harry's Lawyer Said He Was 'Singled Out,' And Reiterated 'How Much This Appeal Means To Him And His Family'
Fatima also argued that the Invictus Games founder had been treated unfairly compared to others in similar situations. "He was and remains willing to pay for the cost of that protective security," she said, before adding that Prince Harry had been "singled out" in the way his protection was removed, despite still being a member of the royal family and facing security threats.
Fatima also reiterated the significance of the case to Prince Harry on a personal level, saying: "His presence here and throughout this appeal is a potent demonstration of how much this appeal means to him and his family."
The appeal hearing concluded with both sides presenting their arguments, but the court hasn't issued a final ruling yet. Has Prince Harry's lawyer done enough to encourage the court to reconsider the original decision to revoke his private security and acknowledge the ongoing risks he and his family face? Only time will tell!
