Prince Harry’s hopes of challenging the High Court’s ruling on his security arrangements in the UK have been dashed, as a judge dismissed his attempt to appeal the decision.
This development deals a significant blow to the Duke of Sussex, who contested the government’s decision to scale back his security detail following his departure as a senior working member of the royal family.
The Royal and VIP Executive Committee (REVEC), tasked with overseeing security for prominent individuals, had determined in February 2020 that Prince Harry no longer warranted automatic police protection while in the UK.
Despite vigorous efforts by his legal team, High Court judge Sir Peter Lane had previously ruled against his case in February.
Now, the bid to challenge the verdict has also been turned down, leaving Prince Harry’s legal team with no option but to escalate the matter to the Court of Appeal.
Amid these setbacks, the 39-year-old found a glimmer of optimism as the judge rebuked the Home Office for delays in disclosing information about REVEC’s operations.
The government department was obligated to reveal three specific categories of individuals receiving state protection from REVEC: designated royal family members, esteemed VIPs, and occasional assistance recipients.
Regrettably, this obligation was not met, leaving Prince Harry’s legal team unaware of the existence of the elusive “Other VIP” category crucial to their argument.
In a bold move to address this oversight, Prince Harry’s legal representatives pressed for a substantial 50-60% reduction, citing mishandling of vital documents and information.
However, the judge, while sympathetic, granted a more modest 10% discount, surprising all parties involved.
In exclusive court documents obtained by The Times, Sir Peter, with a hint of reluctant admiration, acknowledged the Home Office’s non-malicious but protocol-breaching actions, deeming some form of reprimand necessary given the gravity of the situation.
A Home Office spokesperson, possibly recognizing the weight of their missteps, tactfully refrained from further commentary on the ongoing legal proceedings.
Instead, they quietly expressed satisfaction with the court’s firm denial of permission for an appeal.
This turn of events underscores the intricacies and challenges surrounding Prince Harry’s quest to restore his UK security arrangements post-royal exit.
Your thoughts on this matter are valuable; feel free to share them in the comments section as we continue to follow this unfolding story.
Stay tuned for more updates.