Prince Harry loses High Court challenge over change to UK security
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Prince Harry has lost his High Court challenge against the British Home Office over a decision to change the level of his personal security when he visits the UK.
Harry took legal action over the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) after being told he would no longer be given the “same degree” of publicly-funded protection when in Britain.
At a hearing in London in December, the US-based duke’s lawyers said he was “singled out” and treated “less favourably” in the decision by the body that falls under the remit of the Home Office.
They said a failure to carry out a risk analysis and fully consider the impact of a “successful attack” on him meant the approach to his protection was “unlawful and unfair”.
The government said Harry’s claim should be dismissed, arguing Ravec was entitled to conclude the duke’s protection should be “bespoke” and considered on a “case-by-case” basis.
In a ruling on Wednesday, retired High Court judge Peter Lane rejected the duke’s case and concluded Ravec’s approach was not irrational nor procedurally unfair.
In his 52-page partially redacted ruling, Justice Lane said Harry’s lawyers had taken “an inappropriate, formalist interpretation of the Ravec process”.
He added: “The ‘bespoke’ process devised for the claimant in the decision of 28 February 2020 was, and is, legally sound.”
Ravec has delegated responsibility from the Home Office over the provision of protective security arrangements for members of the royal family and others, with involvement from the Metropolitan Police, the Cabinet Office and the royal household.
Harry, who was not present at the December hearing, lives in North America with wife Meghan Markle and their children after the couple announced they were stepping back as senior royals in January 2020.