Prince Harry’s legal team told the court that he and his wife Meghan Markle “felt forced to step back” from frontline royal duties in 2020 “as they considered they were not being protected by the institution”.
The royal arrived at the Court of Appeal in London today to support his legal challenge over security arrangements in the UK.
The Duke of Sussex has flown 5,000 miles from California to attend the two-day appeal hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice.
His case challenges a ruling regarding the right he, Meghan, Archie and Lilibet have to taxpayer-funded bodyguards while visiting Britain.
Shaheed Fatima KC, representing Prince Harry, argued that the Duke has been “singled out” for “inferior treatment” when his high level of protection from the Metropolitan Police was removed.
She told the court that when the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) made its February 2020 decision, it failed to apply “its own terms of reference”.
Instead, Ravec created a “different and so-called ‘bespoke process'”, she said.
“The appellant does not accept that ‘bespoke’ means ‘better’. In fact, in his submission, it means that he has been singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment,” Ms Fatima told the court.
Prince Harry sat behind his counsel, occasionally sipping from a bottle of water.
In written submissions to the court, Ms Fatima emphasised that “this appeal concerns the most fundamental right: to safety and security of person”.
The Duke is challenging the dismissal of his High Court legal action against the Home Office over Ravec’s decision.
At issue is the determination that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the UK because he stepped down as a full-time royal.
Harry and Meghan had wished “to continue their duties in support of the late Queen as privately funded members of the royal family” after January 2020, according to his legal team.
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The case centres on whether the security arrangements for the California-based royal are appropriate.
The Home Office has strongly contested Prince Harry’s appeal, with their barrister stating that it “involves a continued failure to see the wood for the trees”.
The Duke’s legal challenge has already cost British taxpayers £500,000, according to court information.
Prince Harry has remained in court throughout the proceedings, listening as both sides presented their arguments.
The case continues to focus on the appropriate level of security for the Duke when he visits his home country after stepping back from royal duties.
