Prince Harry has suffered a major legal setback in his bid to regain police protection while visiting the UK after the Supreme Court ruled against him.
The Duke of Sussex was contesting a 2020 decision that stripped him of taxpayer-funded security during returns to Britain.
However, senior judges dismissed his challenge, finding the withdrawal of protection was lawful and proportionate.
Prince Harry loses UK Supreme Court battle
The case centered on a decision made in February 2020 by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that Prince Harry would not be given the “same degree” of personal protective security while in the UK.
As a non-working royal living abroad, Ravec determined that Harry’s protection arrangements should differ from when he was a full-time royal.
Harry argued that the decision left him vulnerable and was unfair, as he had offered to pay for British police to protect him while visiting.
However, the Supreme Court firmly rejected this. The judges ruled that while Harry remains a high-risk target due to his royal status, it was entirely lawful for Ravec to tweak his security based on his change in status and residence.
Crucially, the court found no credible evidence that the Ravec committee failed to properly weigh all relevant intelligence material when re-evaluating Harry’s protection requirements.
The judges were also satisfied that Harry’s private funding offer did not override Ravec’s discretion to decide who receives taxpayer-funded security.
As such, Prince Harry now faces the reality that he will not have full police protection on future UK visits.
A Home Office spokesperson emphasized that each case is judged on its merits, adding that revealing details could weaken protective arrangements.
The defeat is a blow to Harry amid signs of improving relations with the Royal Family. He recently had a short meeting with King Charles after it emerged his father has cancer.
The Duke also told a TV interview he intends to frequently return to see family, indicating ongoing strong ties.
However, those visits will now occur without his preferred level of personal police cover.
The court result leaves the Duke with limited options. He could privately hire security teams or make do with the unspecified protection arrangements Ravec has in place.
For now, though, Harry’s Supreme Court challenge has fallen flat, denying him the police protection he desired on his British trips.