Prince Harry has returned to court in London to appeal a previous ruling regarding his personal security while visiting the UK. The case is being heard at the Royal Courts of Justice.

The Duke of Sussex is disputing a High Court decision that upheld the UK Home Office’s ruling to reduce his taxpayer-funded police protection when he is in the country. This decision was made by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which oversees security for members of the royal family and high-profile individuals.

In 2023, retired High Court judge Peter Lane ruled that Ravec's 2020 decision — made shortly after Harry and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States — was lawful and not procedurally unfair.

The Home Office argues that security decisions are made on a "case-by-case" basis. Since Prince Harry is no longer a working royal and spends most of his time outside the UK, Ravec determined that he no longer qualifies for the same level of publicly funded protection as before.

Prince Harry previously offered to pay for his own security, but this proposal was declined. His legal team has stated that he does not feel safe visiting the UK under the current arrangements.

Though his case was initially dismissed and he was denied the right to appeal, the Court of Appeal reversed that decision in June 2024, allowing him to move forward with his challenge. Parts of the hearing will be held in private to protect sensitive information, meaning the public and media cannot attend those portions.

The appeal hearing is expected to last two days, with a written decision to follow at a later date. Photo by DoD News Features, Wikimedia commons.