Prince Harry's Years-Long Battle to Reinstate His Security Has Ended After Judge Dismisses Case

Prince Harry has lost an appeal to reinstate his taxpayer-funded security in the U.K., a judge announced Friday, May 2. The Duke of Sussex has been fighting to regain police protection for himself and his family when they visit Britain—a benefit that a court ruled they were no longer entitled to once the Sussexes stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and moved to California.

RAVEC, the British government's Royal and VIP Executive Committee, ruled that Prince Harry would no longer receive police protection in the U.K., and although the Duke of Sussex lost his February 2024 case, he was granted the right to appeal the decision. He traveled to London in early April to attend the two-day hearing, with his lawyer stating at the time that his "life is at stake" based on the outcome.

The duke's appeal was dismissed by Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos on Friday, who stated (via People), "The Duke was, in effect, stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by RAVEC. Outside the U.K., he was outside the cohort, but when in the U.K., his security would be considered as appropriate depending on the circumstances. It was impossible, I said in my judgment, to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate. Indeed, it seemed sensible."

In a statement from the Duke of Sussex—who faced threats on his life from Al Qaeda at one point—the duke says that the appeal "has been a last resort, but one that has uncovered shocking truths." Prince Harry continues that he was made aware that "the Royal Household are key decision makers on RAVEC" and his "sole representation for matters regarding" his protection.

He adds that he's offered multiple times to pay for police protection himself and has attempted to "resolve" the security matter "privately." The statement continues that the duke is "devastated" by the situation, especially because he wants his children to "know the beauty of" the United Kingdom.

In an interview with the BBC Friday, the Duke of Sussex elaborated on his relationship with the Royal Family, sharing, "I would love reconciliation with my family. There's no point continuing to fight any more, life is precious." However, he added, "I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the U.K. at this point."

The Duke of Sussex has previously opened up about why he feels unsafe bringing wife Meghan Markle and their children Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie to the U.K. after their police protection was removed.

"It's still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read," Harry said in the 2024 documentary Tabloids on Trial. "And whether it's a knife or acid, whatever it is, and these are things that are of genuine concern for me, it's one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country."