Prince Harry Loses Appeal Over Security in the UK

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has lost his appeal regarding the official protection coverage provided by the British government during his visits to the UK, whether alone or with his family, including his wife Meghan and their two children. The ruling, delivered on Friday, states that there is no legal basis for the claim by King Charles III's youngest son, who is subject to a "bespoke" security model based on the circumstances of each visit to his homeland.

"I cannot imagine a world where I would bring my wife and children to the UK at this time," he later told the BBC, expressing his desire for "reconciliation" with his father and the rest of the royal family.

Prince Harry personally attended the appeal hearing, which took place in London over two consecutive days in early April. However, he was absent from the Royal Courts this time and did not hear the judges' decision in person. Sir Geoffrey Vos, the President of the Court, read a summary of the ruling, which had been pre-approved by Lords Justices David Bean and Andrew Edis, who heard the case. A section of the verdict remains confidential.

The three judges agree that there is no legal justification to address the "grievance" felt by the Duke regarding the review of his protection level since he stepped back from official royal duties and initially settled in Canada, later moving to the United States.

The judges also acknowledge that there are "good reasons" for the decision by the Royalty and Public Figures Protection Committee, an independent body with final responsibility within the Home Office, which decided to formulate an appropriate security scheme for each of the prince's visits. Under the new regime, the wayward royal must notify his travel plans at least a month in advance.

Harry has lost the 24-hour protection previously guaranteed by Scotland Yard until he ceased to be an active member of the royal family, attending events on behalf of his now-deceased grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II. Two private bodyguards accompanied him to the courtroom during public hearings, and court officials cordoned off an area of the premises before and after the trial.

In written testimonies, the prince argues that the risk has not disappeared in his assumed status as a private citizen and has even increased in recent years. He feels particularly vulnerable to the rise of racism and extremist Islamism, given his military training and activities in Afghanistan and other war zones.

Harry has traveled alone to England in recent years, and his visits tend to be brief and away from public spaces. He avoids traveling with his wife and two children, Archie and Lilibet, for fear that he cannot guarantee them the highest level of protection from Scotland Yard's elite service. "The UK is my home... I want my children to feel at home... but that cannot happen if it is not possible to keep them safe on British soil," the Duke protests in his testimony.