Prince Harry returned to a London courtroom on Wednesday for the second day of his legal battle to challenge a UK government decision that downgraded his police protection during visits to Britain.
Due to the sensitive nature of national security and threat assessments surrounding the King’s youngest son, much of the proceedings took place behind closed doors.
The 40-year-old Duke of Sussex is seeking to reinstate the full level of police protection he had prior to stepping back from royal duties in 2020. Since he and his wife, Meghan Markle, relocated to North America, Harry is no longer regarded as a working royal and no longer qualifies for the same publicly-funded security while in the UK.
Harry initially filed a lawsuit against the Home Office in 2021, arguing the decision left him and his family vulnerable. After losing the case in 2023, he escalated the matter to the Court of Appeal.
On Tuesday, his legal counsel, Shaheed Fatima, argued that Harry had been “singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment.” In written submissions, his legal team cited specific threats to his safety, including a recent call by al-Qaeda for him to be assassinated. The filing also referenced a high-profile car chase in New York in May 2023 involving the couple and paparazzi.
The prince’s concern for his safety has long been shaped by the tragic death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while fleeing photographers.
Now living in California with Meghan and their two children, Harry has made only brief visits to the UK, citing security concerns as a barrier to spending more time in his home country.
Representing the Home Office, lawyer James Eadie began presenting the government’s case on Wednesday. Harry, seated at the table with a notebook and pen, listened attentively and occasionally conferred with his legal team.
The hearing concluded later in the day, with the court expected to deliver its decision in writing at a future date.