Prince Harry and Meghan Markle lost a legal bid in the U.K. on Tuesday that would have allowed the royals to pay for police protection when their family is in Britain.
The London High Court rejected a judicial review involving one of two cases filed by the Duke of Sussex against the Home Office for denying his application to pay for such services, The New York Times reported.
The Home Office argued that it would be improper for the police to be hired as private security guards, the outlet noted.
Prince Harry loses bid to legally challenge decision not to allow him to pay for police protection in UK https://t.co/DWyz1uZdKS
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) May 23, 2023
The duke and duchess lost their taxpayer-funded police protection when the couple stepped down from their senior royal roles in 2020. They eventually relocated to southern California, where they are raising their two kids, son Prince Archie, 4, and daughter Princess Lilibet, 23 months.
While the royals live in the United States, they are protected by armed bodyguards, but when they are in the U.K., those same guards aren’t allowed to carry weapons, the outlet noted. The prince has argued that his family needs that extra level of protection while in Britain.
The second case against the Home Office has yet to be heard. It focuses on whether Prince Harry should have his state-sponsored security restored.
The duke first filed the cases in September 2021 after being in the country that year to honor his mother at the unveiling of his mother the late Princess Diana’s statue. While there, his security was reportedly “compromised due to the absence of police protection” while leaving a charity event, and his car was chased by photographers, the Guardian noted.
“The goal for Prince Harry has been simple — to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the U.K. so his children can know his home country,” a spokesperson for Harry told the Guardian.
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The court’s decision comes after a spokesperson for the duke and duchess claimed they were involved in a “near catastrophic car chase” in New York City involving “highly aggressive” paparazzi. However, the royal’s narrative has been widely disputed.