Prince Harry has been granted leave to appeal against the rejection of a legal challenge he filed against the British government’s decision to withdraw his police protection while in Britain, his lawyer said Thursday.
Harry, the youngest son of King Charles, launched the move after the Home Office, which is responsible for policing, decided in February 2020 that he would not receive personal police protection while in Britain.
In February, the High Court in London ruled that the decision was legal and dismissed Harry’s case, and in April denied him the chance to appeal the decision to the High Court.
However, following a direct request from Harry’s lawyers that the prince be granted leave to appeal, the Court of Appeal has now said it will hear his challenge.
Harry, like other senior royals, stepped back from his royal duties and received publicly funded security before moving to California with wife Meghan in March 2020.
The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royal Rights and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, decided that Harry could no longer receive the same level of protection.
Judge Peter Lane said RAVEC was entitled to this decision and ordered it to pay 90% of the Home Office’s “reasonable costs” in defending the case, although the total amount paid by the government was not specified.
Allowing the appeal, Judge David Bean said he was “unhesitatingly” satisfied that Harry’s challenge had a real prospect of success on the basis that RAVEC had not followed its own policy.
The case against the government is one of several high-profile legal battles Harry has fought in the High Court, with others involving cases against prominent players in the British press.
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