A London judge ruled on Wednesday that Prince Harry was not improperly stripped of his publicly funded security detail during visits to Britain after he gave up his status as a working member of the royal family and moved to the U.S. Justice Peter Lane of the High Court stated that the decision to provide security to Harry on a case-by-case basis was deemed lawful, rational, and justified.
The Duke of Sussex had expressed concerns about his safety and that of his family while visiting the U.K., citing hostility on social media and relentless media attention. His lawyer argued that the government group responsible for evaluating Harry's security needs had acted irrationally and failed to adhere to its own policies.
A government lawyer defended the decision, highlighting instances where Harry was provided with security, such as in June 2021 when he was pursued by photographers after attending an event at Kew Gardens in London.
The committee that rejected Harry's security request took into account the impact of Princess Diana's death on the nation and the potential public upset if an attack were to occur on her son. Harry, known for challenging the government and tabloids, has brought multiple cases to the High Court, including those related to security arrangements and allegations of phone hacking by tabloid publishers.
In a previous trial, Harry secured a victory against the publisher of the Daily Mirror over phone hacking allegations. He also settled other allegations and was reimbursed for legal fees. Despite withdrawing a libel case against the Daily Mail, Harry continues to advocate for his privacy and security rights.
While Harry's request to privately pay for London's police force to guard him was denied, he remains committed to seeking justice and protection for himself and his family.
