Prince Harry seeks to challenge denial of request to pay for own UK police protection

Prince Harry’s lawyer argued in a London court Tuesday that he should be allowed to dispute the government’s decision to deny him police protection when he visits the U.K.

The Duke of Sussex has six court cases pending over his security and claims that British tabloids hacked his phone and improperly got other information about him.A different High Court judge is hearing his high-profile phone hacking trial against the Daily Mirror publisher.

Harry’s allegation that he doesn’t feel secure taking his young children, Archie, 4, and Lilibet, nearly 2, from the U.S. to his native nation without police security dominated the security case hearing.

The prince’s spokesperson said his U.S. security team has no jurisdiction abroad or access to U.K. intelligence.

After Harry and Meghan left royal duties and relocated to California in 2020, the British government stopped providing security. Harry is suing the U.K. for security denial.

Harry’s lawyer requested a judge to let the duke sue the Home Office and the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures for denying him the right to pay for his protection.

The committee, which comprises representatives from London’s Metropolitan Police, the Home Office, and Buckingham Palace, exceeded its power, according to attorney Shaheed Fatima.

Fatima said that Parliament has concluded that paying for policing is not against the public interest.

Robert Palmer, the government’s lawyer, said reimbursing police for marathon, soccer, and celebrity wedding protection was not the same as utilizing “police officers as private bodyguards for the wealthy.”

Palmer said the committee may deny and determine policy.

Judges usually rule later.