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Prince Harry has lost his legal appeal against the Home Office regarding his security arrangements while in the UK.
The Duke of Sussex had contested a previous High Court decision that supported the Home Office’s stance, after the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) ruled that Harry would receive reduced security following his departure from royal duties in 2020.
During an April hearing, his legal team argued that the decision endangered his life and unfairly singled him out for lower protection. However, the Court of Appeal dismissed the case on Friday.
Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos, delivering the verdict, acknowledged the prince’s concerns were “powerful and moving” but stated they did not constitute a valid legal challenge. He added that the reasoning behind Ravec’s decision appeared “sensible” and “understandable.”
The court found that when Harry is outside the UK, he falls outside Ravec’s protective group, and any necessary security within the UK would be assessed case-by-case.
The Home Office maintained that Ravec acted within a unique and lawful context. The ruling follows an earlier decision by retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane, who also rejected Harry’s claim.
Sir Geoffrey also emphasized that Sir Richard Mottram, the former head of Ravec, had valid grounds to diverge from standard policy, citing his unmatched experience in royal security.
Though the appeal has been dismissed, Harry may seek to escalate the matter to the Supreme Court—should permission be granted by the Court of Appeal.
