Featured Image Credit: PA
Topics: Royal Family, Prince Harry
Jess Hardiman
Prince Harry has lost a highly-publicised appeal in a long-running battle over his UK security arrangements.
When Harry and wife Meghan decided to step down as working royals back in 2020, they saw their taxpayer-funded protection downgraded.
However, he later appealed against the decision, attending court last month to argue his case.
His barrister Shaheed Fatima KC claimed that Harry's safety, security and life are 'at stake', and that the 'human dimension' of the case should not be forgotten.
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But in a ruling today, the appeal was dismissed by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edis.
Vos admitted that Harry's 'powerful' arguments showed it was clear he had been treated badly by the system, but ultimately found no legal basis to challenge the decision to downgrade his protection.
”The duke was in effect stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by Ravec [Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures]," Vos said.
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“Outside the UK, he was outside the cohort, but when in the UK, his security would be considered as appropriate.”
He continued: “It was impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate, indeed it seemed sensible.”
Vos said Ravec’s decision was 'understandable and perhaps predictable', adding: “From the Duke of Sussex’s point of view, I said that something may indeed have gone wrong, in that an unintended consequence of his decision to step back from royal duties and spend the majority of his time abroad has been that he has been provided with a more bespoke, and generally lesser, level of protection than when he was in the UK.
“That did not in itself give rise to a legal complaint.”
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According to a report in The Telegraph last month, Harry said his 'worst fears' were 'confirmed' after alleged secret evidence was heard during the appeal - much of which was heard in private due to 'confidential evidence'.
Speaking afterwards, Harry said: “People would be shocked by what’s being held back."
He also added that his 'worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case and that’s really sad'.
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According to the report, Harry allegedly believes that King Charles could have helped to reinstate his security, however Buckingham Palace has denied this.
A palace source told the Guardian: “These are matters of security and government policy and, as usual, it would be inappropriate to comment or intervene on either.”