Prince Harry loses court battle over police protection in the UK

Prince Harry lost his right to protection by the British police after stepping down from his duties as a member of the royal family. The Court of Appeal in London rejected his appeal, in which he demanded the reinstatement of state-funded protection. Harry argued that the lack of adequate protection threatened his safety during visits to the United Kingdom.

The decision to reduce the level of protection was made after the prince and his wife, Meghan Markle, withdrew from active royal duties in March 2020. Despite losing patronage and military ranks, Harry retained his noble titles and place in the line of succession.

Prince Harry was not present at the verdict's announcement. He and his wife have widely discussed the protection issue, emphasizing that the court's decision hinders their visits to their homeland. The Court of Appeal's verdict concludes the long-standing dispute over the level of protection to which Harry is entitled as a former member of the royal family. The prince may still attempt to fight in the Supreme Court, but first, he must cover both sides' legal costs, estimated at over $2.7 million CAD.