Prince Harry’s legal battle over security has cost taxpayers £400,000 | UK News

Prince Harry’s legal battle with the government over the scaling back of his protective security has cost taxpayers more than £400,000.

The Duke of Sussex’s challenges to the Home Office over his security arrangements has led to mounting costs on the public purse.  

The prince and his wife Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties at the start of 2020 when they relocated to Montecito in California. 

The ‘Megxit’ break was followed by a Home Office committee ruling that he would not be given the ‘same degree’ of personal protection, despite the duke having offered to pay for it himself.

Lawyers acting for the government argued that his offer was ‘irrelevant’ to how officials took decisions over Royal Family security.   

The latest figures up to October 15 this year show that to date the case has cost the Home Office £407,827 in legal fees, with the Government Legal Department claiming £265,437 and counsel £137, 864.

The other charges break down into court fees of £2,310, electronic disclosure of £2,199 and a courier fee of £16.55.  

The figures, released by the Home Office after a Freedom of Information Act request by Metro.co.uk, have risen sharply after a running total of £90,000 was disclosed in July 2022.  

Prince Harry, 39, has previously said his own private security team does not have adequate jurisdiction abroad, which would include access to local intelligence and operating under the legal law enforcement framework. 

In September 2021, he filed a complaint about the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) – which is managed by the Home Office – over the scaling back of his security.

With his legal team arguing that the new arrangements were invalid due to ‘procedural unfairness’, the prince was granted a judicial review, which involves examining the legitimacy of a public body’s decision. 

The published judgement shows that the application was granted on several grounds but not all sought by his legal team.

The challenge was allowed to proceed on the basis that he should have been informed about the security policy before the refusal was issued and he should have had the chance to make his case to Ravec.  

A legal representative for Prince Harry has said that he wants ‘to challenge the decision-making behind the security procedures, in the hope that this could be re-evaluated for the obvious and necessary protection required’.  

The application followed a security incident in July 2021 when his car was chased by photographers as he left a charity event at Kew Gardens.

The duke’s lawyers said ‘his security was compromised due to the absence of police protection’.  

Ravec is responsible for decisions on protective security for the royal family and key public figures.

Consisting of the Home Office, Metropolitan Police and Royal Household, the committee advises an independent chair in decision-making.   

The duke and duchess are said to have privately-funded security in the US, where they live with their children Archie, four, and two-year-old Lilibet.   

In January, the duke’s legal team said: ‘The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed whilst in the UK. 

‘In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home. The Duke first offered to pay personally for UK police protection for himself and his family in January of 2020 at Sandringham. 

‘That offer was dismissed. He remains willing to cover the cost of security, so as not to impose on the British taxpayer.  

‘As is widely known, others who have left public office and have an inherent threat risk receive police protection at no cost to them. 

‘The goal for Prince Harry has been simple – to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the UK so his children can know his home country.’ 

Metro.co.uk has approached the duke and duchess’s representatives for further comment.   

A government spokesperson said: ‘The UK government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate.

‘It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security. It would not be appropriate to comment on ongoing legal proceedings.’ 

MORE : Prince Harry says Queen is ‘looking down on all of us’ as he visits London

Do you have a story you would like to share? Contact josh.layton@metro.co.uk

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.