Prince Harry has suffered another legal blow in the UK, losing his appeal against a court decision to dismiss his challenge to a government decision withdrawing his UK police protection.
The Duke of Sussex gave up the right to government security when he and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex stepped back as senior members of the royal family.
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King Charles’ youngest son brought the original action at London’s High Court after the Home Office decided in February 2020 that he would not automatically receive personal police security while in the UK.
Harry, along with other senior royals, had received full publicly-funded security protection provided by the state.
But the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, had decided Harry would not receive the same level of protection when he withdrew from official duties.
In February, the High Court ruled the decision was lawful and dismissed Harry’s case.
The court refused to permit Harry to appeal on April 8, a court spokesperson said on Monday, adding that the prince can now apply directly to the Court of Appeal.
“The reality of the matter is that the claimant considers he should receive a different approach to his protection whilst in the UK than RAVEC decided he should, based in part on his comparison of his own position with that of others,” Judge Peter Lane said.
“RAVEC, as an expert body, concluded otherwise. It was entitled to do so.”
Harry was also ordered to pay 90 per cent of the Home Office’s “reasonable costs” in defending the case although the amount of the government’s costs were not stated.
The case against the government was one of several high-profile legal battles Harry has waged in recent years, with his others involving lawsuits against the UK media.
The decision comes before Harry is expected to return to the UK in May ahead of a service at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 8 to mark the 10th anniversary of Harry’s Invictus Games.
However security “deliberations” are being discussed to determine whether the entire family will travel back to the UK for the first time since June 2022.
Harry and Meghan have two young children, Prince Archie, 4, and Princess Lilibet, 2.
There is no confirmation on whether Harry will be meeting members of his extended family.
Harry last returned to the UK on February 6 to pay a whirlwind visit to his father King Charles after he made his cancer diagnosis public.
– With Reuters