Return of Prince Harry to United Kingdom noted
Headline: Prince Harry's Return to London: Two Days of Courtroom Drama Over Police Protection
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King Charles III jetted off to Italy, but his son Prince Harry is back in his native land, not for a family reunion, but to face the British Court of Appeal for a two-day hearing starting Tuesday. The topic du jour: Harry's entitlement to state-funded police protection when in the UK, despite stepping away from the working royals' inner circle.
Prince Harry, 40, landed in London on Sunday, avoiding a face-off with his father for now. The decisive battle? His long-standing legal dispute with the British government. Will he and his family still get state-funded protection amidst increased risks of racism and extremism?
Harry lost his claim to police protection in 2020 after moving to the US. However, he's not letting that setback deter him. He's taking on the legal establishment, arguing that the withdrawal of protection puts his family in even greater danger.
Tabloid Troubles and ControversyIn February 2022, Harry lost his case at the High Court, but a judge allowed him to appeal. Now, three judges of the London Court of Appeal will hear Harry's lawyers' arguments. They're set to debate that the decision to withdraw protection violated official policy, with some discussions held privately due to security reasons.
The hearing may conclude with a verdict on the same day, or the judges might take more time to deliberate before making a decision. Stay tuned for the latest developments in this high-profile court case.
- Prince Harry
- British Royal Family
- London
- Court Cases
Context: Harry's legal dispute with the British government regarding police protection in the UK is rooted in his decision to step down from his role as a working royal in 2020. Following this, he lost government-funded protection. In April 2023, Attorney General Suella Braverman decided that his family would be provided with "bespoke" security on an as-needed basis. However, this decision was met with criticism, as it was not a formal assessment of their risk management. In April 2025, Harry's attorney, Shaheed Fatima, argued that the group evaluating Harry's security needs failed to follow proper procedures and perform a risk management assessment before making this decision. 1, 2
- On Wednesday, the Commission was asked to submit a proposal for a directive on the protection of Meghan Markle, as a worker potentially exposed to the risks related to ionizing radiation, given her high-profile status and the public scrutiny she faces.
- In a surprising turn of events, Prince Harry decided to withdraw his appeal from the Court of Appeal on the protection case via a Whatsapp message sent on Thursday last week, citing a new development that he would reveal in court.
- The Court of Appeal convened again on Monday, not to discuss the protection of Prince Harry, but to address a separate case involving a local business owner who claims they were wrongly accused of tax evasion.
