On Tuesday, the Court of Appeal in England is scheduled to hold hearings for two days on Prince Harry’s legal case over the removal of publicly funded security for him and his family during their visits to the U.K.

In 2020, Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, stepped down from their royal roles and moved to Canada. An official committee then decided that the couple would no longer be eligible for police protection that is normally provided to members of the royal family.

Harry is challenging this decision. He lost the initial stage of the case in February of last year, but a judge later granted him permission to appeal on limited grounds, stating that there was a “real prospect of success.”

Three judges at London’s Court of Appeal will hear arguments from Harry’s lawyers that the withdrawal of protection violated official policy. Some parts of the case will be conducted in private, due to the sensitive nature of the evidence regarding security processes and risk assessments, the court ruled.

The case is about a February 28, 2020 decision to withdraw security protection for Harry and Meghan after they stepped down from their roles. Harry came to know about discussions over his security but was not informed that a decision had been made until later.

During the initial stage of his case, Harry’s lawyers stated that he was unaware of the committee’s existence and had no opportunity to provide input. Harry expressed concern and disbelief in a letter to a government official on February 10, 2020, mentioning the death of his mother, Princess Diana, who was killed in a car crash in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi. Harry stated that his family faced “additional layers of racism and extremism” and that security from the Metropolitan Police in London was essential. He believed that the lack of consultation could be a form of punishment, which the British government has denied.

Harry launched the legal challenge in September 2021, arguing that the committee violated its own policy and did not consider key factors or follow a fair process. He offered to reimburse or proactively finance the cost of security measures on his own, but the committee decided that this went against principles. The Home Office stated that the committee believed it was not appropriate for wealthy individuals to buy protective security from the government when it was not deemed necessary from a publicly funded perspective.

The High Court dismissed Harry’s case in various aspects in February 2023. However, he was granted permission to appeal three months later, but only on legal points concerning whether the committee violated its own policy.

The ruling from the two-day hearing may be announced the same day or at a later date, depending on whether the judges reserve judgment. The losing side can apply for permission to appeal to the U.K. Supreme Court, but permission is not automatically granted. The British Home Office stated that the U.K. government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate, but they cannot provide detailed information on those arrangements as it could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.

Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/08/world/europe/prince-harry-security-hearing-court.html