Prince Harry on Friday lost his legal appeal to reinstate full police protection when visiting the UK—a significant setback for the Duke of Sussex, who has argued that his family’s safety is at risk.
The Court of Appeal in London dismissed the case, with Judge Geoffrey Vos ruling that Harry’s “sense of grievance” did not amount to a legal claim. Vos acknowledged that Harry received a reduced level of protection after stepping back from royal duties in 2020, but said this alone did not justify legal action.
Harry has been challenging the UK government’s decision, made by a special security committee in 2020, to downgrade his publicly funded security after he and his wife, Meghan Markle, moved to the United States. His lawyers argued he was unfairly singled out and that the risks to his safety were not fully considered.
The Prince, who served in the British Army and is deeply affected by the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a 1997 car crash while fleeing paparazzi, has long cited security concerns as a major reason for limiting visits to the UK. In past testimony, he called the country “central to the heritage of my children” but said he couldn’t safely bring them back without proper protection.
During a recent two-day hearing, Harry’s legal team referenced threats from extremist groups and a high-speed paparazzi pursuit in New York as evidence of ongoing danger. “There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake,” his lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, told the court.
However, the court sided with the government, which said Harry’s security had been adjusted to reflect his reduced public role and time spent abroad.
Since stepping down as senior royals, Harry and Meghan have largely distanced themselves from the British royal family. Their relationship with the monarchy has remained strained amid public criticism and interviews detailing their grievances. Reports suggest Harry is barely in contact with his brother, Prince William, and has seen his father, King Charles III—who is undergoing cancer treatment—only rarely in recent years.
While Harry has kept a relatively low profile, Meghan has reemerged online with new ventures including a podcast, Netflix projects, and a return to social media.