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In a London appeal court on Tuesday, Prince Harry’s representation asserted that the removal of his British security details was unjust. During a rare court appearance, Harry, who relinquished his role as a working member of the Royal Family and relocated to the United States in February 2020, faced the repercussions of this decision.
A prior ruling from a High Court judge determined that a government panel’s decision to provide tailored security for Harry, based on specific needs during his visits to the U.K., was lawful and valid. However, Harry’s attorney, Shaheed Fatima, challenged this decision, claiming that the assessing group neglected to adhere to established procedures and failed to adequately conduct a risk management assessment.
Fatima articulated that the term “bespoke,” as it relates to Harry’s security, does not imply improved protection. Instead, he argued that it signifies that Harry is being treated differently in a way that is both unjustified and inferior.
On the day of the hearing, Harry was seen in a navy blue suit with a light blue tie, seated behind his attorney, which underscored the significance of the case to him. As the younger son of King Charles, the 40-year-old Duke of Sussex has consistently challenged royal traditions by pursuing legal actions against both the government and the media, often yielding mixed results in court.
Notably, Harry has seldom appeared in court recently, with only a few notable exceptions in the last two years, including being the first senior royal to testify in over a century during a phone hacking trial involving British tabloids.
Concerns for Safety
Harry has voiced concerns that he and his family may be at risk while visiting the U.K., citing hostility from social media and an ongoing media frenzy directed at him and his wife, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. He previously sought court approval to privately fund police protection during his stays in the U.K., but this request was denied by a judge on the grounds that police officers should not serve as “private bodyguards for the wealthy.”
Additionally, he chose to withdraw a libel suit against the Daily Mail publisher, which alleged that he hid his attempts to maintain government-funded security. Nonetheless, he achieved a noteworthy legal victory earlier in 2023 against the Daily Mirror, as the court found that the publication had engaged in “widespread and habitual” phone hacking.
WATCH | Harry wins case against Daily Mirror owner (2023):
Prince Harry wins phone-hacking lawsuit against Mirror tabloid chain
Following the judge’s ruling, Harry celebrated what he referred to as a “monumental” triumph in January when Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. tabloids issued an extraordinary apology for their years of intrusive behavior and agreed to pay substantial damages in relation to his privacy infringement lawsuit.
Harry also has a similar legal action pending against the Daily Mail publisher, continuing his fight for accountability and privacy.
Source
www.cbc.ca