Prince Harry's recent legal challenge against a Home Office decision, which denied him automatic police protection rights, has left taxpayers with a hefty bill, reportedly exceeding £500,000.
This revelation stems from a Freedom of Information request by The Telegraph. The Duke of Sussex's halted court proceedings have accumulated significant costs, including over £180,000 for council fees, £230,000 for the government legal department, £2,300 in court fees, and nearly £10,000 in E-disclosure expenses.
Harry initiated legal action against the Home Office following a decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures in February 2020. This committee determined that Harry should receive altered taxpayer-funded protection while in the country, citing his transition away from being a full-time working member of the royal family. Retired High Court Judge Peter Lane dismissed Harry's case in a 52-page ruling, affirming that the committee's approach was neither irrational nor procedurally unfair.
Upon learning of the decision to withdraw his tax-funded police protection in 2020, Prince Harry expressed anger and demanded accountability. It's understood that he intends to appeal the High Court's decision, although no specific timeline has been disclosed. Since announcing their decision to step back as senior royals in January 2020, Prince Harry and his wife Meghan have been residing in the United States with their two children.
Prince Harry briefly returned to the UK on February 6th, without his family, to be with his father following the distressing news of the king's cancer diagnosis. Later that month, he made a brief on-camera appearance to advocate for WellChild Awards nominations. Despite stepping back from their royal roles, Prince Harry and Meghan expressed surprise when they found that their perks were no longer applicable, despite being informed that their security detail would be downsized to reflect their new status as retired royals.
In response to the mounting costs incurred by Prince Harry's legal actions, taxpayers have voiced their discontent. Many argue that Harry should be made responsible for the government's legal costs, given the outcome of the case. The sentiment among the public, as gauged by various polls and media outlets, overwhelmingly rejects Harry's security demands, with many expressing frustration at funding what they perceive as a lavish security lifestyle.
Critics and members of the public alike have been vocal in their disdain for what they perceive as Harry's sense of entitlement and tendency to play the victim. While Prince Harry and Meghan could afford their own security, their reliance on taxpayer funds has sparked criticism. It's clear that the public's patience for funding Harry's lifestyle is wearing thin, and the royal family's traditional values and public sentiment are unlikely to bend to his demands, particularly when they are as unpopular as a rainy day at a picnic.
