Prince Harry faced a legal setback on Tuesday regarding his request to hire British police officers for personal security during his visits to the United Kingdom.
As a private individual residing in California, Harry covers the expenses for his own security measures both at home and while traveling. However, when in the UK, he sought to employ specially trained police officers with access to British intelligence for a higher level of protection.
The change in Harry's security arrangements came after he stepped down from his royal duties.
In 2020, the Home Office decided that he would not receive the typical personal police protection given to senior members of the royal family, even if he paid for it out of his own pocket.
A judge ruled on Tuesday against granting Harry's request for a judicial review of the previous rejection of his offer to cover the security costs. During a hearing last week, Harry's legal team argued that he should be allowed to challenge the decision made by the executive committee responsible for protecting royalty and public figures, known as Ravec.
This committee held the stance that individuals should not be permitted to financially contribute towards their own police security. The Home Office's lawyers supported Ravec's position, stating that wealthy individuals should not be able to "purchase" police protection.
Despite stepping back from their royal roles, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, continue to draw significant media attention. Recently, the couple was involved in a "near catastrophic" car chase in New York City, as described by their spokesperson. The incident brought back memories of Harry's mother, Princess Diana, who tragically died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi. The investigation determined the drunk driver to be at fault.
Since relocating to California, Harry has made several trips to the UK, including attending his father's coronation. British police have provided security for him on a case-by-case basis, but not to the extent it was provided when he was an active member of the royal family.
Prince Harry is currently involved in multiple legal battles in the UK.
Last summer, he obtained permission to challenge the government's decision to withdraw his state security, although the hearing for this case is yet to take place. Additionally, he is suing three major tabloid publishers for alleged phone hacking and invasion of privacy.
It is widely expected that Harry will testify in court early next month as the fifth-in-line to the throne seeks justice.
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