By Sheila Mckenzie-
A retired High Court judge, Sir Peter Lane, has rejected the Duke of Sussex’s challenge against the government’s decision to withdraw his police protection while in the UK.
The ruling, delivered on Wednesday, dismissed Harry’s claims of being “singled out” and treated unfairly in the alteration of his taxpayer-funded security arrangements.
Harry’s legal team had argued that the decision to change the level of his personal security lacked a thorough risk analysis and failed to fully assess the potential impact of a security breach. They contended that this approach was both “unlawful and unfair.”
However, Sir Peter Lane ruled otherwise, stating that the decision to remove police protection was neither unlawful nor irrational. Furthermore, he dismissed claims of procedural unfairness, asserting that even if such unfairness existed, it would not have significantly altered the outcome for Prince Harry.
The majority of the court proceedings were conducted in private due to the sensitive nature of the evidence surrounding security measures, excluding both the public and the press.
Prince Harry initiated legal action in February 2020 following a decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which oversees security arrangements delegated by the Home Office.
The government defended its stance, arguing that Ravec was justified in determining that Harry’s protection should be tailored to his specific circumstances and evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
While this ruling represents a legal setback for Prince Harry, it underscores the complexities surrounding security arrangements for members of the royal family, particularly those who have stepped back from official duties.