Prince Harry believes he has been “singled out” and subjected to “unjustified, inferior treatment” following his departure from royal duties, the Court of Appeal in London heard today.
The Duke of Sussex and his wife Meghan Markle “felt compelled to step back” from their senior royal roles in 2020 because they believed the institution was failing to offer them adequate protection, according to his barrister, Shaheed Fatima KC.
Harry has flown over 5,000 miles from California to attend the two-day hearing in person, challenging a previous ruling that denied him, Meghan, and their children Archie and Lilibet automatic taxpayer-funded police protection while in the UK.
However, the Home Office’s legal representative pushed back, arguing that Harry’s appeal shows “a continued failure to see the wood for the trees.”
The legal battle comes amid reports from MailOnline suggesting that Harry did not see his father, King Charles, before the monarch left for a four-day state visit to Italy earlier this week.
The Duke is appealing the High Court’s dismissal of his lawsuit against the Home Office, which upheld a decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec). The committee had determined that Harry should receive a different level of security now that he is no longer a working royal. The case has already cost UK taxpayers an estimated £500,000.
Opening arguments were delivered this morning by Ms. Fatima, with Prince Harry seated just behind her in court. She argued that Harry had received unfair treatment when the Metropolitan Police protection he once had was downgraded.
“When Ravec made its February 2020 decision regarding the appellant’s security, it failed to apply its own terms of reference,” she stated, arguing instead that the committee used a “different and so-called ‘bespoke process.’”
She added, “The appellant does not accept that ‘bespoke’ equates to ‘better.’ On the contrary, he believes it shows he has been singled out for unequal, unjustified, and substandard treatment.”
As his counsel laid out the case, Harry listened quietly, sipping water from a plastic bottle.
In written submissions presented to the court, Ms. Fatima—known for being a pioneering figure as the first hijab-wearing barrister in the UK in 2016—stressed that the case centered on “the most fundamental right: the right to personal safety and security.”
She also noted, “On January 8, 2020, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex felt compelled to step away from their roles as full-time working royals due to what they perceived as a lack of protection by the institution. However, they still wished to continue their duties on behalf of the late Queen in a privately funded capacity.”
Ms. Fatima argued further that Prince Harry was not given the opportunity to present any informed response to Ravec, and added, “His security arrangements do not appear to have been discussed in any formal Ravec meeting, and there are no official records or detailed minutes outlining the approach or the reasoning behind it.”
She emphasized that when Ravec removed the prince’s high-level security in February 2020—shortly after he and Meghan announced they would step down and move to North America—it failed to follow its own established procedures.
According to her, Ravec should have referred Harry’s case to the Risk Management Board for a detailed security needs assessment, but this step was skipped. Instead, Ravec created a custom process that Harry’s legal team claims did not meet necessary standards.
“The appellant does not accept that bespoke means better – in fact, from his perspective, it signals he has been subject to unique, lesser treatment,” she reiterated.
The hearing is being overseen by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean, and Lord Justice Edis, and is expected to conclude on Wednesday, though a written judgment will follow at a later date.
Meanwhile, MailOnline reports that Harry and his father, King Charles, are not believed to have met during Harry’s recent trip to the UK. The Duke arrived in London from Los Angeles on Sunday, while the King spent the weekend resting at his Gloucestershire estate, Highgrove, in preparation for his state visit to Italy.