Topline
Prince Harry on Tuesday lost a legal challenge over his right to pay for police protection while in the U.K., the latest development in a string of lawsuits the Duke of Sussex is pursuing in his home country that comes just days after a spokesperson said Harry, his wife Meghan Markle and her mother were involved in a “near catastrophic” car chase with paparazzi in New York City.
Prince Harry lost a legal battle to review the British government’s decision to reject his offer to … [+]
Key Facts
London’s High Court on Tuesday ruled against Prince Harry’s request for a judicial review into the British government’s decision to reject his offer to pay for police protection himself while in the U.K.
The British government rescinded the state-funded security typically afforded to senior royals and public figures like the prime minister when Harry—who is the youngest son of King Charles III and fifth in line to the throne—stepped down as a “working royal” and moved to the U.S. in 2020.
His lawyers argued the government body that made the decision to reject his funding offer did not have the legal authority to do so and said it should have considered his request for an exception, adding that the law does not preclude people from paying for protective police services privately in the case of events like soccer matches.
Government and police lawyers disagreed, arguing that allowing Harry to pay for police services would undermine public confidence in the police and set an uncomfortable precedent that wealthy people could “buy” police as bodyguards.
In a written judgment, Mr Justice Chamberlain concluded the government body was not wrong to decide Harry’s offer to pay for police security was against the public interest and rejected his lawyer’s requests for a judicial review.
News Peg
Harry’s relationship with the British government and royal family has been fractious since leaving for the U.S. These tensions have been aggravated by the numerous public interviews he and Meghan have given candidly discussing his family, as well as a documentary series and a revealing, tell-all book. This lawsuit is but one of many he and Meghan are involved in in the U.K., including fights with British tabloids ahead of his father’s coronation over what they say are breaches of privacy, fake stories and illegal practices. Security has been a particular sticking point for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, particularly given the intense media interest surrounding the pair and the circumstances of the death of his mother, Princess Diana, which he blames on the tabloid’s obsession with her. A spokesperson for the pair last week said they, alongside Meghan’s mother, Doria Ragland, were involved in a two-hour “near catastrophic” car chase in New York City after leaving an event. Law enforcement and one of the picture agencies have disputed the couple’s account and characterization of the incident.
Further Reading
Prince Harry, Meghan In ‘Near Catastrophic’ NYC Car Chase (Forbes)
Here’s What We Know About Prince Harry And Meghan Markle’s $135 Million Deals (Forbes)
Source: https://www.forbes.com/sites/roberthart/2023/05/23/prince-harry-loses-legal-fight-for-police-protection-in-uk-days-after-near-catastrophic-nyc-paparazzi-car-chase/