Prince Harry lost a sensational appeal against his security arrangements while he was in the UK. The Duke of Sussex previously claimed that he wanted his children, Prince Archie, 5, and Princess Lilibet, 3, to know their British heritage but could not bring them or his wife Meghan to his home country because he does not believe it is safe for them without taxpayer-funded police protection, but the decision handed down this afternoon will be devastating.
He had argued that the Home Office should have received a different level of protection when he was present, and that his High Court case had been dismissed due to the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec). The duke’s lawyers told the Court of Appeal that his safety, security, and life are “at stake” at a two-day hearing in April, and that he had been “singled out” for “inferior treatment.”
However, Harry’s appeal was dismissed in a decision made this afternoon by Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean, and Lord Justice Edis. Sir Geoffrey stated in a summary of the decision that “the duke was in effect stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by Ravec.” Although he was outside the cohort when he was in the UK, his security would be regarded as appropriate. It appeared to be reasonable to assume that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate, he continued.
Ravec’s decision was “understandable and perhaps predictable,” according to Sir Geoffrey. At Friday’s brief hearing, Harry was not present.
The Home Office, which is legally liable for Ravec’s decisions, opposed the appeal, whose attorneys previously claimed that Ravec’s decision was made under a “unique set of circumstances” and that there was “no proper basis” for contesting it.
Ravec, who has involvement from the Metropolitan Police, the Cabinet Office, and the royal household, has delegated responsibility from the Home Office to the provision of protective security measures for members of the Royal Family and other members. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex left as senior working royals in early 2020, and retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane decided that the decision was legitimate.
The duke’s attorney, Shaheed Fatima KC, told the court last month that they felt “forced to step back” from their positions as senior working royals because they felt “the institution was not protecting them.” Harry’s security team was informed that the terrorist organization had published a document in which Ravec’s decision was stated that his “assassination would please the Muslim community,” according to Ms Fatima.
She continued, citing the lack of an “expert specialist body called the risk management board, or the RMB” in her proposal for a “different and so-called ‘bespoke process’. She remarked, “The appellant does not understand that “bespoke” means “better.” In fact, his submission implies that he has received a different, unfair, and inferior treatment.
The duke’s appeal is based on a continued failure to see the wood for the trees, advance ideas that are only accessible by reading small portions of the evidence, and now be taken out of context and ignoring the overall picture, according to Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, in written submissions.
Ravec continued, saying that his treatment of the duke was “better suited” to his circumstances. He is no longer a member of the group whose security position is being regularly reviewed by Ravec, according to Sir James.
Instead, he is re-enter the cohort in appropriate circumstances and taking into account any given circumstance. “Harry was present at the Royal Courts of Justice’s hearing both days last month, and he could be seen taking notes and talking to members of his legal team during the appeal.” The hearing’s portion was held in secret, preventing the press and the public from speaking in public about sensitive matters.
Harry was permitted to remain in court while the sensitive issues were being discussed. He claimed in a statement to The Telegraph that “people would be shocked by what’s being held back” adding that “his” worst fears have been confirmed by the legal disclosure in this case, which is really sad.”
He also suggested that the change in his security arrangement was intended to stop him and his wife Meghan from leaving their jobs and moving abroad, which Buckingham Palace sources have vigorously refuted. Harry claims that his father could assist in getting this reinstated, but a palace source has refuted this claim as being “wholly inaccurate.”
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