Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has suffered a significant legal setback that could influence whether he and his family visit the United Kingdom in the future. On Wednesday, a London judge ruled that the U.K. government had the authority to strip Prince Harry of his automatic security detail during his visits to Britain, a ruling that has broader implications for the royal’s safety and the scope of his trips to his homeland.
The ruling stems from a 2020 decision by the British government that denied Harry and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, automatic taxpayer-funded police protection during their visits to the U.K. after they stepped down from their roles as senior working royals. The decision, made by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC), established that security for the Sussexes would be granted on a case-by-case basis, meaning their safety arrangements in Britain could be uncertain.
Following the court’s decision, Prince Harry’s spokesperson announced that he intends to appeal the ruling. “The Duke of Sussex will appeal today’s judgment, which refuses his judicial review claim against the decision-making body RAVEC, which includes the Home Office, the Royal Household, and the Met Police,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “The Duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of RAVEC’s own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with RAVEC’s own written policy.”
Harry, now living in California with Meghan and their children Archie, 4, and Lilibet, 2, has expressed concern about his family’s safety while on British soil and has indicated a willingness to pay for police protection himself. However, the court’s ruling underscores the government’s stance that such security provisions will not be guaranteed for the Sussexes, raising questions about their future visits to the U.K.
The timing of the ruling is particularly poignant, coming less than two weeks after Harry made a brief trip to the U.K. to visit his father, King Charles III, who has been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer. Harry’s trip, which lasted just over 24 hours, was his first visit to Britain since his father’s coronation in May. During that trip, he traveled alone and did not attend the ceremony, reflecting the ongoing rift within the royal family.
The uncertainty surrounding security could affect not only Harry’s visits but also those of Meghan and their children. Meghan last joined Harry in the U.K. in September 2022 for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral, while their children, Archie and Lilibet, have not been known to visit the U.K. since the queen’s jubilee in June 2022.
In an interview with ABC News earlier this month, Harry indicated that he had additional trips to the U.K. planned, but with the recent court ruling, the logistics of those visits could become more complex. “I’ve got other trips planned that will take me through the U.K., or back to the U.K., and so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can,” he said. Since relocating to California, the Sussexes have relied on a privately-funded security team.
The court’s ruling and Harry’s forthcoming appeal could set a precedent for how security arrangements for former royals are managed, potentially impacting the Sussexes’ connection to the U.K. and their ability to visit with a sense of safety and security.
