Prince Harry will be given “limited police protection” when he comes to the UK next week after losing his legal battle for taxpayer funded security.
Harry is due to travel to London from his US home to attend his forthcoming High Court trial against News Group Newspapers. He is set to be granted protection from the Metropolitan Police while attending the hearings. Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has agreed to provide The Duke of Sussex with armed officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, a source said.
The insider said: “He is offering Harry limited police protection. The Met has been trying to recruit officers on their days off because they don’t have a lot of spare staff.” It is understood that Harry was offered a place to stay at Buckingham Palace but turned it down.
Sir Mark Rowley, Met Police Commissioner
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PA)
It comes after the Duke lost a legal challenge last year over his protection when in the UK. He was contesting a decision to downgrade his security status when he stopped being a working royal. Harry was no longer automatically provided with the same level of police protection given to the Royal Family when he stepped back from the role and moved to the US.
The Prince’s security is now an operations decision for the Metropolitan Police and it is made on a case-by-case basis, in the same way as other VIP visitors to the UK. Harry said he was singled out in the 2020 decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures. But the High Court ruled in March that Ravec’s ruling was not irrational or unfair.
Prince Harry at the High Court during another legal battle
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AFP via Getty Images)
The Home Office said it was pleased with the court’s finding, adding Harry’s security would be arranged on a perceived-risk basis. Harry was at the Coronation in 2023, with the Metropolitan Police providing security. In June he was given the green light to appeal the High Court ruling dismissing his challenge to the level of police protection he receives in the UK. Granting the appeal, Judge David Bean said he was persuaded “not without hesitation” that Harry’s challenge has a real prospect of success.
Harry and former Labour deputy leader Lord Tom Watson are suing NGN, publisher of The Sun, over alleged unlawful information-gathering and invasion of privacy. When Harry comes to his home country, Meghan will remain at home with their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. She has not been back on UK soil since September 2022 at the time of the late Queen’s death.
Prince Harry has been contacted for comment.