Harry, the youngest son of King Charles, lost a lawsuit against the British government over its failure to provide police protection whenever he returned home.
Harry filed a lawsuit against the British government in the High Court in London in 2020 after the Home Office decided he would no longer receive police protection while in the UK. Before he gave up royal duties and moved to California with his wife and children in March 2020, Harry had full security protection like other senior members of the royal family.
At the December 2023 hearing, Harry’s lawyers argued the Home Office’s decision had subjected him to unlawful, unfair and unreasonable treatment.
However, the government’s legal team said the Royal and Public Protection Executive Committee (RAVEC), which is responsible for ensuring security for members of the British royal family and VIPs, did not think police should be assigned to protect Harry after he stepped down from the royal family.
The UK Supreme Court agreed with RAVEC on February 28 and concluded that the decision was not unlawful.
“We are pleased that the court has upheld the government’s position in this case and we are carefully considering the next steps,” a UK government spokesman said after the court’s decision.
Harry last returned to Britain earlier this month, after King Charles was diagnosed with cancer.
The latest ruling marks Harry’s second loss in a security-related lawsuit. In May 2023, the London High Court ruled against Harry after he sued RAVEC for not allowing him to pay for police protection.
Lawyers for the police and the British government said allowing Harry to hire police protection would mean wealthy people could also “buy” specially trained officers as personal bodyguards.