Two years ago, Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan made a decision that changed their whole lives: the couple decided on a royal resignation and laid down their royal duties and responsibilities. As “senior royals” they have gained a lot of freedom, but above all they have lost an important privilege: their security.
With the resignation, the grandson of Queen Elizabeth II. namely no longer entitled to police protection in Great Britain. The son of Prince Charles wants to take legal action against this. A hearing is therefore taking place in London today – in which it is also decided whether the case will be heard in court.
As a member of the royal family and son of the heir to the throne, Prince Harry “inherited a security hazard at birth, for life,” according to one of his legal representatives. Again and again, the British Royals are the target of planned attacks. Harry’s aunt, Princess Anne, narrowly escaped being kidnapped in 1974.
That’s why protecting the Windsors is a top priority – armed bodyguards from the Metropolitan Police are always by their side. With the resignation of royal duties, however, Prince Harry loses exactly this claim. In America, where Harry and Meghan live with their children Archie and Lilibet, the couple finances their personal protection out of their own pockets. But when the two of them are in Harry’s old home – as was the case recently for the Queen’s jubilee – the father of two children demands comprehensive security measures. However, Harry is only guarded in the UK when attending royal events.
Apart from appointments in which he is officially involved, his protection is currently not being paid for. Prince William’s brother now wants to claim this in court. Because Harry currently feels that returning to England with his loved ones is “too dangerous” – he fears for his family’s safety.
A hearing is now taking place in London at the Royal Courts of Justice today, Thursday, where a judge will decide whether there is “a valid reason to bring the case to court,” according to The Sun. Prince Harry wants to sue the UK Home Office for not providing him and his family with the protection he believes they desperately need.
In addition to demanding full police protection in his home country, Prince Harry is also demanding that his private security team in the US be granted access to information relating to the safety of the prince and his family in England. Today’s hearing will discuss whether Harry can pursue the case further. However, his presence is not necessary for this. And it is not expected that the British royal will be there in London.
Harry’s legal team said the lawsuit was necessary because the prince and his family “cannot return to their homeland for lack of protection.” In addition, Harry and Meghan’s privately funded security team “could not provide the necessary protection that is required in the UK”. While “his role within the institution has changed,” “his profile as a member of the royal family has not changed,” and accordingly, “the threat to him and his family has not changed,” argues a legal representative for Harry.
After Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018 and the birth of their son Archie in 2019, the couple announced in early 2020 their decision to pursue a life away from the palace in the future. The prince and former actress eventually settled in America. There they caused a stir in March 2021 with their scandalous interview with American talk show host Oprah Winfrey. You can count on one hand how many times Prince Harry has been to his native Britain since the royal resignation.
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The original of this post “Today the question of the safety of his family will be decided” comes from Bunte.de.
