A recent legal battle involving the Duke of Sussex has concluded with a ruling that upholds the decision to downgrade Prince Harry’s security upon his departure from official royal duties and relocation to the United States with the Duchess of Sussex. The court dismissed Prince Harry’s appeal against the decision, stating that there was no unlawful treatment in the process that led to the reduction in security measures. The judges found that Prince Harry’s grievances did not provide a legal basis for overturning the security downgrade.
The conflict between Prince Harry and the government escalated when he and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal responsibilities in early 2020. Concerns about safety prevented Prince Harry from returning to the UK with his family. The legal challenge focused on the allegation that the government committee responsible for royal security did not adequately consider Prince Harry’s circumstances when making decisions in 2020. Despite the prince’s arguments, the Court of Appeal sided with the initial decision to lower his security level.
Prince Harry’s decision to transition away from his royal role and move abroad triggered a reassessment of his security needs by the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) committee. While the committee’s conclusion was to evaluate his security on a case-by-case basis due to his infrequent visits to the UK, Prince Harry’s legal team contended that his threats were not properly reassessed as required. Consequently, Prince Harry now receives police protection in the UK, but it is not automatic, and he must provide advanced notice for visits, which he fears could jeopardize his family’s safety.
The court acknowledged the deviation from Ravec’s policy by the committee chair, Sir Richard Mottram, in reaching the decision to diminish Prince Harry’s security detail. Despite this departure from protocol, the judges accepted the rationale provided by Sir Richard, citing his and the committee’s extensive experience in royal protection. The court deemed the decision not to conduct a full security review as sensible given the circumstances and the committee’s expertise. Therefore, the court upheld the decision to reduce Prince Harry’s security measures, affirming that his change in royal status did not warrant a reconsideration of the initial determination
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