Prince Harry Wins Lawsuit For Review Of Decision To Refuse Police Protection

Prince Harry. (Wikimedia Commons/DoD News)

JAKARTA - Prince Harry won permission on Friday to legally challenge the government's decision to deny him police protection while in Britain.

As the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II, Harry received the full police protection generally granted to royal figures before he decided to step down from his royal duties, moving to the United States with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020.

But the Home Office, the UK ministry responsible for policing, immigration and security, decided in February of that year Harry would stop accepting personal police security while in the UK, even if he had to pay for it himself.

On Friday, a British High Court judge granted permission for part of Harry's claim for review, a process in which a judge examines the validity of a public body's decision.

Lawyers for Prince Harry, who previously said in court that a member of the royal family was involved in the decision, could not be reached for comment.

There have been signs of tension between Harry and the royal family since at least 2019, when he and Meghan decided to set up their own household, cutting off the partnership they had with Prince William and his wife Kate.

Harry and Meghan have relied on a private security team since moving to California, where they live with their two young children.

Harry's lawyers, however, say private security arrangements do not provide the prince with the level of protection he needs while visiting Britain.

Meanwhile, Harry and Meghan have in recent years received critical coverage in parts of the British press, which she described as "toxic".

Friday's clearance was granted for a number of different reasons though not all requested by the prince's legal team, a decision published on the court's website showed.

The court granted permission for a review on the grounds that the prince should have been informed of the Home Office's security policy before a decision to deny police protection was made.

He should have had the opportunity to present his case to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalties and Public Figures, or RAVEC, the Home Office wing that makes the decisions, the ruling added.

No date has been set for the review.

Separately, the Home Office said by email it would not comment on the ongoing legal process.

"The UK Government's protective security system is very strict and proportionate. It has been our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information about these arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect the safety of individuals," a government spokesman said.