Prince Harry admits his 'worst fears have been confirmed' amid UK return
The Duke of Sussex has been appealing a legal decision over his security in BritainPrince Harry recently made a return to the UK to attend court hearings amid his case surrounding his security.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, is challenging a decision to downgrade his security protection when he visits the UK. After Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020, he lost his right to automatic high-level police protection, funded by the public, when visiting Britain.
His security in the UK is currently decided on a case-by-case basis instead. Prince Harry and his legal team have previously said the safety of his family is at the heart of the case.
During his visit to the UK last week, Harry told press that he felt “exhausted and overwhelmed” after the hearings.
Did Prince Harry return to the UK?
Last week, the Duke of Sussex returned to the UK to attend the legal hearings in his security court case.
However, it’s believed Harry didn’t visit his family members during the UK trip.
On April 9, following a hearing where much information was kept confidential, Harry spoke to PEOPLE and other press. The publication notes Harry was feeling “exhausted and overwhelmed”.
He added to them that “people would be shocked by what’s being held back”. Harry said his “worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case and that’s really sad”.
When Harry and wife Meghan Markle, 43, stepped back from their senior royal roles in early 2020, they reportedly understood that his security would remain in place.
However, just a month later, the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) – responsible for state-funded security – told the couple this would change.
Duke of Sussex’s security court case explained
Harry’s latest legal battle came after the High Court upheld RAVEC’s 2020 decision that he should not receive the same level of police protection working members of the royal family are given.
The Duke of Sussex is challenging this and the way RAVEC came to the decision. In 2023, Harry told the High Court: “The UK is central to the heritage of my children. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe.”
At the time, Harry had lost an appeal to be allowed to privately fund police protection whilst in the UK.
People would be shocked by what’s being held back.
Sir James Eadie KC, representing the Home Office – which has legal responsibility for RAVEC’s decisions – in the case, said that the case-by-case process was “better suited” to Harry’s new circumstances.
He insisted that the security previously given to the royal hasn’t been revoked fully. Instead, he said the security “would not be provided on the same basis as before” since Harry has moved to the United States.
Prince Harry’s ‘life at stake’
Meanwhile, Prince Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima KC, said the duke’s safety and life is “at stake”.
She said in court last week: “One mustn’t forget the human dimension to this case. There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake.”
Read more: Prince Harry makes unannounced visit to Ukraine as he’s branded ‘dumb as a rock’
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