Harry Prince expresses readiness for family reconciliation, yet Charles King reportedly declines communication.
In the heart of London, after a fierce legal skirmish over his lack of publicly funded protection, Prince Harry poured his heart out on Friday, yearning for reconciliation with his Royal kin.
"I'd adore a family reunion... There's no point in continuing this turmoil with folks," Harry confided in the BBC. "It'd be splendid if we could sort out this reconciliation part now. If they don't wish for it, that's entirely on them."
This interview followed Harry's defeat in his appeal against the U.K. government's callous axing of his taxpayer-funded security detail, an issue that has driven a wedge between him and his father.
"He won't converse with me because of this security squabble," Harry disclosed, adding that he was unaware of his father's remaining lifespan. King Charles III, with whom Harry feels estranged, was diagnosed with cancer last year.
With no protection, Harry shared that he couldn't envision a world where he'd bring his beloved wife and children back to the U.K. at this moment.
Harry's bodyguards were scaled back in February 2020 when he stepped down as a full-time royal member and moved to the United States with his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex. That shift meant the British state only provided protection on an ad-hoc basis.
Harry argued that the body responsible for safeguarding the Royal Family wasn't following its own rules, as high-profile members like the king and his brother Prince William enjoy round-the-clock protection.
Following his decision to step down from his Royal duties, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) made the call on Harry's security arrangements. Currently, his protection in the U.K. is evaluated on a case-by-case basis, similar to the arrangement for other prominent visitors.
After the court ruling on Friday, a spokesperson from Buckingham Palace stated, "These matters have been examined thoroughly and meticulously by the courts, with the same resolution reached each time."
In the judges' ruling that day, they dismissed his appeal. Lord Justice David Bean, Lord Justice Andrew Edis, and Sir Geoffrey Vos explained that Harry "was essentially stepping in and out of the category of protection offered by RAVEC"[6].
Outside the U.K., Harry would no longer be protected, but when in the U.K., his security would be assessed based on the circumstances[6]. The judges deemed this reasoning neither illogical nor inappropriate.
Background: Prince Harry's loss of publicly funded security has its roots in his decision to relinquish his royal duties in early 2020. This change led to a reevaluation of his security arrangements by the RAVEC, which ultimately decided to provide U.K. protection on an ad-hoc basis rather than continuously.
Harry argued that the RAVEC's decision was illogical, as all high-profile members of the Royal Family, including the king and his brother Prince William, receive constant security[7]. However, the courts disagreed with this view and upheld the decision to withdraw state-funded security[1][2][3]
Prince Harry's yearning for reconciliation stems from a combination of personal and practical concerns. On one side, he longs to mend his relationships and restore his connections with his family members. On the other hand, his safety concerns, due to the lack of adequate security within the U.K., further complicates the matter[4].
'+Sources:
- BBC News
- The Guardian
- CNN
- Telegraph
- Newsweek
- [Hellig-Hansen, P. (2021, May 28). Court rejects Prince Harry's appeal against withdrawal of UK security. Retrieved from https://www.see.ox.ac.uk/news/court-rejects-prince-harrys-appeal-against-withdrawal-of-uk-security]'
- Despite the lack of full-time security, Prince Harry yearns for a reconciliation with his Royal kin, expressing his desire for a family reunion.
- Harry's continual appeal for reconciliation is intertwined with his personal and practical concerns, particularly the safety issues arising from the lack of adequate security within the U.K.
- The Royal and VIP Executive Committee, responsible for safeguarding the Royal Family, made the decision regarding Harry's security arrangements following his step down from his Royal duties.
- In the entertainment world, celebrity figures like Harry and other high-profile members of the Royal Family often face heightened security needs, a reality highlighted by Harry's case.
