Prince Harry loses appeal for UK police protection
Prince Harry has lost the case to have his state-funded British police protection reinstated. The ruling was made by the Court of Appeal in London.
Prince Harry, after stepping down from his duties as a member of the royal family, lost the right to police protection. The Court of Appeal in London rejected his appeal for the reinstatement of state-funded protection. Harry argued that the lack of adequate protection threatens 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 patronages and military ranks, Harry retained his noble titles and his place in the line of succession.
Prince Harry was not present at the announcement of the verdict. The issue of protection has been widely commented on by him and his wife, who emphasised 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 the legal costs of both sides, which are estimated at over £1.65 million.
