Dismissed from his recourse to justice, Prince Harry no longer has automatic police protection in the United Kingdom-Liberation
Already that there was no longer a lot of feet, this is a decision that will not encourage the Prince Harry to return more often to the United Kingdom. The youngest son of King Charles III lost his legal action against the British government’s decision on Friday 2 May to demarcate his police protection in British territory. The judge said he was sensitive to « »Powerful and moving arguments»» of the prince, who was not present at the hearing. But he considered that the grievances of the Duke of Sussex did not constitute « A legal argument in favor of contestation » of the government’s decision.
After their decision to leave the country in 2020, Harry and his wife Meghan lost the systematic protection provided for active members of the royal family and paid by the British taxpayer. From now on, the Ministry of the Interior assesses the need for protection of the prince on a case-by-case basis when it goes to the United Kingdom.
Harry, who now lives in the United States and rarely goes to his native country, had taken legal action in 2021 to contest this decision. In 2024, he had been dismissed at first instance, the justice considering that the decision of the authorities was « Legally founded ». This is the second defeat in court for the prince with regard to the management of his security. In another procedure concluded in May 2023, he was denied the right to benefit from police protection by paying it with his personal funds.
The subject is sensitive to Prince William’s brother, who holds the press and the paparazzi as responsible for the car accident who killed her mother, Princess Diana, in Paris in 1997. « Life and security » prince « Are at stake »then pleaded his lawyer Shaheed Fatima. His defense also argued that the prince was taken in a « »dangerous chase»» With paparazzi in New York in May 2023, and notably received threats from Al-Qaeda.
The lawyer for the Ministry of the Interior, James Eadie, had defended the approach to him « custom made » Adopted by the British authorities, which better corresponds to the change of status of the prince within the royal family. During the examination of his appeal at first instance, Harry said that his fears for his security and that of his family – including his two children Archie (5 years old) and Lilibet (3 years) – prevented him from coming more regularly to the country.
The prince is cold with the rest of the royal family, against which he has multiplied the attacks in recent years. His last known interview with his father dates back more than a year, shortly after the announcement of the Charles III cancer. Prince Harry is also committed to a Judicial crusade against tabloids In the United Kingdom, with more or less success. He also made the headlines recently, after having resigned from his function as a sponsor of an association working in Africa and which he had created in memory of his mother, due to a conflict with his president.
She accused him of « Harassment and intimidation »and the British association regulator opened an investigation. Denouncing them « lies » of the president, Harry said that the investigation reveals « The truth about what has collectively forced us to resign »with the co -founder of the NGO, Prince Seeiso du Lesotho.
This Friday evening, on the BBC, Prince Harry said they wish a reconciliation with his family and regret not being able to return to the United Kingdom with his wife and two children: « Some members of my family will never forgive me for having written a book (the substitute, editor’s note) … But I would really like to reconcile myself with them ”, said the Duke of Sussex to the BBC, adding not to be able to « Imagine a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the United Kingdom » without police protection.
Update At 6:47 p.m. with the interview given by Harry to the BBC.
