Prince Harry is just hours away from learning whether his appeal to reinstate police protection while in the UK has been successful. The Court of Appeal is set to deliver its decision on Friday, May 2, at 2 p.m. local time at London’s Royal Courts of Justice, according to multiple reports.
The Duke of Sussex is challenging a 2020 ruling by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which downgraded his security after he and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped back from royal duties. The case, which has drawn significant public interest, could set a precedent for how security is handled for former senior royals.
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During a hearing last month, Harry’s legal team argued that the decision was unjust and placed him at significant risk. His barrister, Shaheed Fatima KC, told the court, “His safety, security, and life are at stake.” She also said that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex “felt forced to step back” from royal life due to inadequate institutional protection, and revealed that Harry received an assassination threat following Ravec’s ruling.
The legal argument centers around Ravec’s use of a “bespoke process” rather than standard security protocols based on professional risk assessments. “The appellant does not accept that ‘bespoke’ means ‘better’,” Fatima told the court, suggesting that the tailored approach was insufficient and potentially negligent.
Harry’s team maintains that he should receive police protection during visits to the UK, especially when participating in public events or official functions. They argue that stripping him of such protection, while he remains a high-profile public figure and member of the royal family, compromises his safety.
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The UK Home Office, however, defends the decision as lawful and appropriate given Harry’s changed royal status. Government lawyers claimed the appeal “ignored the totality of the picture,” and insisted that the bespoke security model was more suitable for Harry’s current, non-working royal role.
As the verdict looms, the case has reignited debate over what level of security former royals are entitled to and who should bear the cost. Regardless of the outcome, the ruling will likely influence how the monarchy and the UK government handle similar situations in the future.
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