Royal returns to London courtroom as legal battle over withdrawal of police protection reaches critical stage
Prince Harry appeared once again at London’s Royal Courts of Justice on 9 April, attending the closing session of his appeal against the British government’s decision to remove his automatic entitlement to police protection while in the UK.
The Duke of Sussex is contesting a 2020 ruling by the Home Office, which concluded that his status no longer warranted publicly funded security following his decision to step down from official royal duties and relocate to the United States. Now living in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, Harry argues the decision exposes him and his family to unnecessary risk.
Although his legal challenge was dismissed in 2024, the court permitted an appeal, which has now reached its final day. The prince, 40, was seen closely consulting with his legal team throughout the session, at times visibly reacting to the government’s arguments.
Government barrister James Eadie defended the original decision, stating that a “tailored approach” to Prince Harry’s security needs was justified and even advantageous. “The rationale for a bespoke security arrangement lies in its ability to respond to real-time threats, rather than relying on outdated assumptions,” he told the court.
The court held part of the hearing behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of the security details being discussed.
Supporters gathered outside the courtroom, and one woman was heard calling encouragement to the prince during a recess.
On the first day of the hearing, Prince Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, argued that the government’s handling of his case constituted “unjust and inferior treatment”, singling him out unfairly. Court documents submitted on his behalf referenced a 2023 incident in New York City involving a high-speed paparazzi chase, as well as credible threats made against him by the terrorist group Al-Qaeda.
The outcome of this high-profile legal battle could set a precedent for how security is handled for non-working royals in the future, especially those with ongoing public exposure and international prominence.
