Prince Harry returned to a London courtroom on Wednesday for the second day of his appeal against the UK government’s decision to reduce his police protection during his visits to the UK.
Much of Wednesday’s proceedings were held behind closed doors due to the sensitive nature of discussing the security risks and threats surrounding King Charles III’s youngest son. Harry, 40, is seeking to have his UK security reinstated to the same high level it was before he and his wife, Meghan, stepped down from their royal duties in 2020 and moved to North America.
As a non-working royal, Harry no longer receives the same level of publicly funded protection, which the government decided was no longer warranted when he visits Britain.
The prince initiated legal action against the Home Office in 2021, and after his initial case was dismissed last year, he brought the matter to the Court of Appeal.
On the first day of the hearing, lawyer Shaheed Fatima argued that Harry had been “singled out for different, unjustified, and inferior treatment.” The legal team also referenced various threats made against the prince.
Harry’s concerns are particularly acute given the trauma surrounding the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who died in a car crash in Paris in 1997 while trying to escape paparazzi.
Though Harry and Meghan have settled in California with their children, the prince has expressed that his security concerns make it difficult for him to visit the UK, with his trips often being short and limited.
During Wednesday’s session, lawyer James Eadie, representing the Home Office, began presenting the government’s arguments as Harry listened attentively, occasionally conferring with his lawyer. A notebook and pen were laid out on the table in front of him.
The two-day hearing is set to conclude on Wednesday, with a decision to be issued in writing at a later date.
