The Duke of Sussex has been granted permission to bring a High Court challenge against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK. Prince Harry seeks a review of the decision not to allow him to pay for police protection for himself and his family during visits from the US.
A February 2020 ruling by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) stated that the duke and his family would not receive the 'same degree' of protection as when he was a full-time working royal. Prince Harry's legal team argued the decision was procedurally unfair, as he was not given an opportunity to make informed representations beforehand.
In a judgment on Friday, Mr Justice Swift granted permission for part of Prince Harry's claim to proceed to a judicial review, though many of his challenges were rejected. The judge stated: 'The application for permission to apply for judicial review is allowed in part and refused in part.'
The duke's challenge focuses on the lack of transparency around Ravec's decision-making and whether its decision about the level of protection was reasonable. His legal team also claimed he was unaware that a top aide to the Queen, with whom he had 'significant tensions', had played a role in the decision.
Lawyers for the Home Office maintain that Ravec was entitled to reach its decision, which provides for security arrangements on a 'case by case' basis. Both parties will submit further information to the court ahead of any full judicial review hearing.
