Harry Loses Lawsuit Over UK Security

Royal sued for the right to pay for police protection while he's in Britain, court wasn't having it
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted May 23, 2023 6:09 AM CDT
UK Court Rejects Harry’s Lawsuit Over Police Protection
Britain's Prince Harry arrives at the Royal Courts Of Justice in London, Thursday, March 30, 2023.   (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, File)

A London judge ruled Tuesday against Prince Harry in his efforts to pay for police protection when he visits Britain, reports the AP. A High Court judge rejected the Duke of Sussex’s assertion that the British government exceeded its authority when it denied him the right to hire police to provide security in the UK. The British government stopped providing security after Harry and his wife, Meghan, quit their royal duties and moved to California in 2020. As the BBC notes, a lawyer for the government argued in court that it shouldn't allow the wealthy to "buy" police officers "as private bodyguards for the wealthy,” and that it's not reasonable to expose officers to danger because of "payment of a fee by a private individual."

Harry has said he doesn’t feel safe visiting Britain with his young children, and has cited aggressive press photographers. The case was argued last week on the same day Harry and Meghan sought cover from paparazzi in a New York police station after a spokesperson said they had been involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” with photographers after a gala event. No one was injured and no citations given, but police said photographers made it challenging for the couple to get where they were going. Harry is separately challenging the decision to deny him government-paid security. That lawsuit is the only one of five active legal cases he has in London courts that is not against British tabloid publishers over allegations of libel or phone hacking.

(More Prince Harry stories.)

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