In the ongoing legal saga between Prince Harry and the UK government concerning his security arrangements, recent revelations have stirred significant dismay.
It's come to light that the prince is not being considered part of the VIP category, which would afford him automatic state security. This insight, provided by an expert, emerges against the backdrop of Harry's recent approval to appeal a high court ruling that had initially ruled against him. Renowned royal author and commentator Angela Lan has shed light on Harry's motivation for the appeal, suggesting that it's tied to his upcoming world tour with Meghan.
Levana, expressing surprise, remarked that British taxpayers might foot the bill for Harry's security, stating, "Well, it's not on our tax, frankly." The prince had hoped for a swift resolution to the appeal, fearing its potential impact on his security arrangements in other countries. However, his request was denied. Levana also highlighted the irony that British taxpayers could be contributing to Harry's security despite a previous ruling deeming him ineligible for state protection reserved for other VIPs. Lan remarked, "So he was sort of put in his place."
The legal battle traces back to February 2020 when Prince Harry initiated legal action following a decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures regarding his security. Earlier this year, the High Court ruled against Harry's claims, upholding the fairness of the decision. Sir Peter, the High Court judge, argued that the process implemented for Harry in 2020 was legally sound, agreeing with the decision of RC's former chairman.
Security arrangements for the royal family are managed by RC, an entity delegated by the Home Office. Despite this setback, Harry has been told he can appeal the verdict at the Court of Appeal, as per an order from Lord Justice Bean dated May 23rd, 2024. In his ruling, Sir Peter argued that the prince's lawyers had taken an inappropriate formalist interpretation of the process during the High Court case. He maintained that the bespoke process devised for the claimant in the decision of February 28th, 2020, was and is legally sound. A spokesperson representing Prince Harry emphasized that he's not seeking preferential treatment but rather a fair application of RAV's rules. The prince remains hopeful for a just outcome from the Court of Appeal and refrains from further comment on the matter while the legal process unfolds.
In February 2020, RAVIC failed to apply its written policy to the Duke of Sussex, excluding him from a particular risk analysis. The Duke's argument is that the so-called bespoke process tailored for him is no substitute for that risk analysis. He hopes to obtain justice from the Court of Appeal and makes no further comment while the case is ongoing. Now, it has surfaced that American taxpayers are footing the bill for his protection, which has understandably sparked frustration among many. A judge previously concluded that Harry wasn't in a comparable position to those in the other VIP category entitled to state security, effectively putting him in his place. However, he seems unable to accept this judgment.
