Prince Harry ‘Gutted’ as UK Court Rejects Appeal for Police Protection

Prince Harry expressed deep disappointment on Friday after losing a legal battle to reinstate his automatic police protection in the United Kingdom, following a decision that he said puts his family’s safety at risk.

The Court of Appeal upheld an earlier ruling by the High Court that backed a 2020 decision by a specialist government committee—known as RAVEC—to remove automatic police protection for the Duke of Sussex after he stepped back from royal duties.

Speaking to the BBC, Harry said, “Obviously, pretty gutted about the decision. We thought it was going to go our way, but it certainly has proven that there was no way to win this through the courts.”

Harry, who now resides in California with his wife Meghan and their two children, added: “My status hasn’t changed – it can’t change. I am who I am … I can’t escape that.”

While the court acknowledged the emotional impact on the prince, the judges said the Home Office’s actions were not unlawful. Judge Geoffrey Vos noted that Harry’s legal team made “powerful and moving arguments,” but concluded they did not demonstrate a legal error.

The ruling now cements the UK government’s stance that Harry, despite being the king’s son, will not receive publicly funded security during private visits to Britain unless specifically authorized.