Prince Harry’s ongoing struggle with King Charles III, may face further strain as the UK court rejected his attempt to fund his police protection personally.
According to royal commentator Shannon Felton Spence, Prince Harry’s previous expressions of feeling unsafe in the UK and his relocation to California, combined with the recent court decision and their move from Frogmore Cottage, suggest that it is unlikely to see the Sussex family returning to the UK for a significant period.
“The King” author Christopher Andersen echoed this sentiment, stating that it would take a significant event like a royal funeral or a court appearance to entice Harry and Meghan back to the UK anytime soon.
Following their decision to resign from their senior royal roles in 2020, the British government ceased providing police protection for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. In response, Prince Harry has been engaged in a legal battle, arguing for continuing protection for his family and even offering to cover the costs personally. However, the government’s legal representation contended that hiring police officers as private bodyguards for the wealthy was inappropriate.
Justice Martin Chamberlain upheld the government’s reasoning, stating that there was nothing inconsistent or illogical about denying Prince Harry’s request to hire police bodyguards at his own expense.
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner expressed his belief that denying Prince Harry and Markle’s ability to finance their police protection is a significant setback for the couple.
Notably, King Charles does not possess the power to reverse the court’s ruling, as the sovereign does not interfere with the government due to the strict separation between the two institutions.
While Prince Harry’s bid to personally pay for police protection in the UK was unsuccessful, he may still have a chance to challenge the decision to deny him government-paid security in another court case. If successful, the British taxpayers would fund their police protection during future visits. However, royal author Christopher Andersen speculated that King Charles might not prioritize such considerations and would likely follow the decisions of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures.
