Duke of Sussex weighs next legal steps after losing bid to reinstate police protection
Prince Harry has been left "hugely disappointed" after the Court of Appeal officially dismissed his legal challenge to reinstate publicly funded security in the UK, according to royal commentators.
In a ruling delivered by Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos on May 2, the court rejected Harry’s appeal against an earlier High Court decision that upheld the lawfulness of RAVEC’s (Royal and VIP Executive Committee) decision to downgrade his security following his 2020 departure from royal duties.
Although the judge acknowledged that Harry’s legal arguments were “powerful” and that it was “clear he felt badly treated by the system,” the court ultimately ruled that there was no legal error in how RAVEC assessed and altered the Duke’s security arrangements.
Speaking to BBC News, royal expert Afua Hagan said Harry is likely feeling disheartened by the outcome, particularly because the decision makes it even less likely he’ll travel to the UK with Meghan Markle, Prince Archie, and Princess Lilibet anytime soon.
“He feels that it's not safe for them to travel with him, and that means he probably won't come back to the UK with his family for the foreseeable future,” Hagan explained.
Looking ahead, Harry could attempt to take his case to the Supreme Court, but would first need permission from the High Court to proceed. No formal decision has yet been made on whether such an appeal will be pursued.
The full judgment has now been published on the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary website, bringing transparency to a high-profile legal battle that underscores Harry’s strained relationship with both the UK government and the royal establishment.
