Duke suffers financial and legal setback as Court of Appeal rejects challenge over police protection
Prince Harry is confronting the fallout of a major courtroom defeat—both in principle and in pounds. Following the Court of Appeal’s decision on May 2 to reject his bid to restore taxpayer-funded police protection in the UK, the Duke of Sussex may now be liable for an estimated £1.5 million in legal costs, according to GB News.
The multi-year legal battle stems from the decision by RAVEC (the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures) to downgrade Harry’s security status after he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties in 2020. Harry claimed the move left him vulnerable and unfairly targeted, arguing that it put his life “at stake.”
Though Sir Geoffrey Vos, who delivered the court’s verdict, acknowledged Harry’s personal feelings, stating that it was “plain the Duke felt badly treated by the system,” the judge ultimately upheld RAVEC’s decision as lawful and proportionate.
“My conclusion was that the Duke of Sussex’s appeal would be dismissed,” Vos concluded.
Now, on top of covering his own extensive legal costs, Harry may be required to pay the UK government’s legal fees, with the total sum potentially rising if he chooses to escalate the case to the Supreme Court—an option he still retains, but one that would come with even greater financial and reputational risk.
The ruling is not just a legal blow, but also a symbolic one, as it further complicates the Duke’s hopes of returning to the UK with his family under full protection—while highlighting the ongoing personal and financial consequences of his royal departure.
