A London judge dismissed Prince Harry’s attempt to secure his own police protection whenever he visits the UK, thereby denying his request to challenge the UK government.
Following his departure from royal duties and relocation to California alongside his wife, Meghan Markle, the British government ceased providing security services to the couple. Additionally, when Prince Harry offered to cover the expenses of his protection during visits to the UK, his proposal was promptly turned down.
During the court proceedings, a government lawyer argued against allowing the hiring of police officers as private bodyguards for the wealthy, deeming it inappropriate. Justice Martin Chamberlain concurred with the government’s stance, asserting that denying the Duke of Sussex’s request to hire police bodyguards at his own cost was neither illogical nor inconsistent. He highlighted the distinction between providing private protection for an individual and utilizing police for security purposes at public events such as sports gatherings.
Justice Chamberlain also emphasized the potential strain on police resources, establishing an unfavorable precedent, and the risk of perceived unfair treatment. He stated that allowing privately funded protective security could reduce the availability of limited specialist resources and create difficulties in containing such a precedent.
Prince Harry has previously expressed concerns about his safety when visiting Britain with his young children, citing aggressive paparazzi photographers who pursued him after an event in 2021. These concerns were further emphasized when he and Meghan sought refuge in a New York police station last week following an alleged “near catastrophic car chase” with photographers after a gala event.
While the court ruling did not grant Prince Harry the ability to pay for police protection in the UK, another judge permitted his case to proceed, challenging the decision to deny government-funded security.
