Prince Harry calls out police protection saying ‘inadequate’ security was a ‘trap’

He says it was a ‘ploy’ to trap him in the UK

Prince Harry has called out the level of police protection he received after he and Meghan Markle quit as senior royals, adding he felt the decision to cut his security was a ‘trap’.

The Duke of Sussex recently returned to the UK as part of his appeal against the government to have his official security reinstated.

He was on home soil to attend the two-day appeal which took place at the Royal Courts of Justice. His lawyers on his behalf challenged the decision to remove Prince Harry’s security when he and his family are back in the country.
Prince Harry says he won’t let his wife or children return to the UK over fears of security (Credit: Amy Katz/ZUMA Press/Cover Images)

Prince Harry’s security case in a nutshell – what police protection does he receive?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s security was cut after they stepped down as senior members of The Firm in 2020. The police protection is paid for by the British taxpayers.

The Duke of Sussex claimed he was ‘singled out’ when Ravec (Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures) cut his top-level protection after Megxit.

Lawyers for the Home Office said the Committee had discretion to strip his security without conducting a risk analysis with Risk Management Board (RMB) quango. Whereas, Prince Harry’s lawyers argued that the royal “does not accept that bespoke means better”, adding he was “singled out for different, inferior treatment”.

But the barrister for the Home Office retorted Harry and Meghan stepping down from his duties within the monarchy changed things, calling it “unique and unusual circumstances”.

Currently, the full time police protection covers King Charles and Queen Camilla. It extends to the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children.

The Sussexes no longer receive Metropolitan Police protection when they visit the UK, but receive a different degree of security. The ‘bespoke’ service would require Prince Harry to give 30 days’ notice of his plans to return, and each visit is individually assessed for threat levels and degree of protection needed.
Prince Harry says police protection being cut was a ‘ploy’ to trap the Sussexes in the UK (Credit: Dutch Press Photo/Cover Images)

‘Worst fears’ come true

Prince Harry is upset by certain elements of the case being held behind closed doors, he told The Telegraph.

He claims what he experienced in the legal process ‘crossed a line’.

He said: “People would be shocked by what’s being held back,” before adding that his “worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case and that’s really sad”.

Some evidence were not held in public due to security reasons.

After the two-day appeal, he felt ‘exhausted’ and ‘overwhelmed’ by the ordeal.

The Duke believes his police protection being cut was a ploy to try and prevent him and Meghan from leaving the UK and the royal family.
The Duke of Sussex is ‘exhausted’ after the appeal hearings (Credit: Jennifer Graylock/INSTARimages)

Could Prince Harry’s security be reinstated?

Even if the dad-of-two wins the appeal, it may not mean Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will have the full level of police protection reinstated.

The Royal and VIP Executive Committee may not be compelled to grant the ex-senior royals full security.

Prince Harry, on the other hand, has vowed to continue to fight the issue regardless on whether he wins or loses. He explained he was being “driven by exposing injustice”.

The duke first fought back against the case in September 2021, 18 months after he and his wife left the country with son Prince Archie.

A judgement on the appeal is expected at a later date.