Prince Harry is taking UK government to court over protection costs

By | January 21, 2022

The cost of security at the royal residence is a contentious issue, with neither Buckingham Palace nor government officials eager to discuss precautions openly.

Because safety is paid for out of the general public purse, critics frequently weaponize the issue by claiming that police protection should not be given automatically to non-working royals and long-distance relatives.

Following being deprived of his royal patronage and the use of the HRH type in official capacity, the Duke of York is required to cover his personal security.

In this situation, Prince Harry has agreed to pay for Scotland Yard protection himself and his family while they’re in the United Kingdom. Harry is unable to do so due to a Home Office decision.

He has several problems, the biggest of which is that his personal safety squad does not have adequate power across international borders or access to necessary UK intelligence information to keep him and his family safe.

He emphasizes that any negative news about the royal family would harm the UK’s popularity.

Following their retirement as working royals, the Sussexes’ security was one of several crucial elements. Their website at the time stated that the Home Office, through the Metropolitan police force, should maintain protection for the family.

In 2021, Harry revealed to Oprah Winfrey that he had been told that they would no longer be “official” members of the royal family as a result of their new status. He said he was taken aback by this and pushed back on the issue, stating that there had been no change in the danger or menace to the pair since then.

At the same time, Meghan informed how she had written to her spouse’s family requesting them not to take his safety, yet was informed “it’s just not feasible.”

Following the comments, they claimed they had put in place “privately financed security” for his or her move to the United States after then-president Trump stated that America wouldn’t be able to meet the payments for their protection. Harry revealed to Winfrey that Netflix and Spotify had offered them payment for personal safety.

Harry claims he “inherited” a hazard being born into the royal family. His authorized team stated that danger was “for life.”

“He is still sixth in line to the throne, has served two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan, and his family has been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats recently. While his position within the institution has altered, his profile as a royal member has not. Nor have the threats to him or his family diminished.

A judicial evaluation is a court case that aims to determine the legality of a public body’s decision. Judicial evaluations must pass a “threshold test” before they can continue.

Harry has completed his paperwork, and the Home Office should file a “acknowledgment of service” as well as their reasons for refusing the equipment. The contentious court will now consider whether or not there is a good case for judicial review. The declaration continues to a substantive listening after permission is granted.