Prince Harry Royal Duties: Prince Harry Wins Legal Rights To Remove His U.K. Government Security

Updated on July 23, 2022 10:54 AM by Anna P

Prince Harry's Right To Challenge The U.K. Security Arrangements

Prince Harry has the right to challenge the status of the U.K. security arrangements in place following his decision to return from frontline duties.

The ruling follows a 2020 decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) to remove Harry's automatic right to U.K. police security after his bombshell January 2020 announcement.

Permission For Judicial Review

Judge Jonathan Swift's permission to the Duke of Sussex, "Permission to apply for judicial review" over the RAVEC decision in legal papers.

The decision that the legal action will now proceed to a full hearing at the High Court in London between Harry and the U.K. government, an unprecedented situation in modern times.

The High Court heard that Harry and Meghan Markle's security had been dealt with on a "flexible, case-by-case" basis since they decided to step back.

U.K. Jurisdiction With U.K. Government Intelligence Access

Harry's legal team has previously stated that Harry "does not feel safe" bringing children Archie, 3, and Lilibet, 1, to the U.K. under this arrangement because his U.S. security team does not have jurisdiction in the U.K. or access to U.K. government intelligence.

Speaking in court in July 2022, his attorney Shaheed Fatima stated, "what flexible sometimes means is security."

U.K. government Sir James Eadie QC said that RAVEC was forced to reassess Harry's security following his decision to step back with Meghan, 40, and based its decision on the core principle of "whether the security should be automatic" because of the change in their circumstances.

RAVEC Judgment

Eadie joined that the whole thing was "purely a matter of judgment for RAVEC" and that Harry "should not be able to demand security" because he is the Queen's grandson.

U.K. Government Refuses

The U.K. government also refused Prince Harry's offer to pay for Scotland Yard security for his family whenever they visit the U.K., the court heard. The U.K. government has 56 days to file a documentary relating to the case. A day for the hearing has yet to be closed.

They made the legal decision after a U.K. court ruled that they pay Harry and Prince William's former nanny 'substantial' damages over "totally unfounded allegations" made about her by disgraced journalist Martin Bashir to secure a 1995 interview with Princess Diana.