Prince Harry is taking new legal action after the British government refused to allow him to personally pay for private police protection while visiting the UK.
He and wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex moved to the US with their son Archie, two, in 2020 after stepping down from their senior royal roles and later welcomed daughter Lilibet, six months.
The family have yet to return to the UK as a foursome, in part due to Harry’s reported concerns about his family’s safety in his home country.
While he and Meghan pay for a private security team in the US, a representative for Harry said that team do not have adequate jurisdiction abroad.
Prince Harry has taken legal action after the UK government refused to let him pay for private police protection.
(Image: Getty)
Furthermore, they wouldn’t have access to UK intelligence information which could pertain to the prince and his family.
“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed whilst in the UK,” a statement from the representative read.
The Duke of Sussex had hoped to pay for police protection for himself, Meghan and their children if and when they return to Britain, but the UK government weren’t on board.
The statement added: “In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home.”
In response to the British government’s decision, Harry has filed a claim for judicial review to challenge the decision-making behind the government’s refusal.
The Duke of Sussex has returned to the UK twice since he and Meghan stepped down as senior royals and had to manage without police security during both visits.
While his April 2021 trip to attend the funeral of his grandfather, Prince Philip, appeared to go off without incident, the same couldn’t be said for his July visit.
According to the statement, the prince’s security was “compromised due to the absence of police protection” when his car was chased by photographers after a charity event.
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And this is far from the first time Harry has asked for the chance to fund his own police security while in the UK.
He and Meghan lost the right to publicly funded police protection when they stepped down as senior royals, but the Duke of Sussex says he took up the issue with the Queen in 2020 talks.
In the statement, Harry claimed to have offered to pay for his own police protection during initial exit talks but his offer was “dismissed”.
“The goal for Prince Harry has been simple – to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the UK so his children can know his home country,” it said.
Harry claims he can’t return to the UK with his family without police protection.
(Image: Alexi Lubomirski)“The UK will always be Prince Harry’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in.”
The British government has stood by its decision and chosen not to comment further on the details of its security system or any legal proceedings.
You can read the full statement from Prince Harry’s legal representative referenced throughout this article here.
