Prince Harry has expressed a desire for “reconciliation” with his family following the latest loss in his legal efforts to regain security protection while in the U.K.
The 40-year-old Duke of Sussex has been entangled in the matter for some time, appearing in court in London in April as he challenged the decision to strip him of high-level security.
RAVEC (the Royal and VIP Executive Committee) made the decision to reduce Harry’s security after he and Meghan Markle stepped back from their roles as senior royals in 2020.
The recent ruling confirms that Prince Harry will not receive taxpayer-funded armed police protection for himself, Meghan, or their children when visiting the U.K.
Court rules against Prince Harry in security case
On Friday, May 2, the Court of Appeal dismissed Prince Harry’s challenge, meaning that security funded by the British public will not be reinstated for his family’s visits to Britain.
According to the BBC, three senior judges ruled against the Duke in the latest stage of the case.
Speaking to BBC News that same day, Prince Harry expressed his wish to repair family ties, saying, “I would love a reconciliation.”
“Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has,” he added.
Reflecting on the situation, Harry stated, “I can’t see a world in which I will be bringing my wife and children back to the U.K. They’re going to miss everything. I love my country. I miss the U.K., I miss parts of the U.K. It’s sad I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.”
The Duke also pointed to the role his father, King Charles, might play in resolving the dispute, noting that the monarch is still undergoing cancer treatment.
Harry calls for healing in new BBC interview
He acknowledged longstanding family tensions, admitting, “There have been some differences and disagreements with some members of my family.”
He went on to say, “This current situation, which has been ongoing for five years with regard to human life and safety, is the sticking point. Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book. But I would love reconciliation with my family.”
“There’s no point in continuing to fight any more. Life is precious. I don’t know how much longer my father has. He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff. It would be nice to reconcile.”
Harry noted that he has now “found out the truth” and said it would be “nice to have that reconciliation part now.”
Why was Harry denied security protection?
Back in April, Harry appeared in court as proceedings took place concerning the British government’s decision to remove his automatic security coverage — a change that followed his withdrawal from official royal duties in 2020.
Leaving his position as a working royal meant Harry was no longer entitled to standard police protection by default.
Instead, the arrangement was revised so that security would be considered on a case-by-case basis — a framework Prince Harry has openly opposed.
At the April 8 court hearing, his legal team argued that both Harry and Meghan felt as though they were “forced” to leave royal life because of their security situation.
In a written statement read in court, Harry’s legal representative explained: “On 8 January 2020, (the duke) and his wife felt forced to step back from the role of full-time official working members of the royal family as they considered they were not being protected by the institution, but they wished to continue their duties in support of the late queen as privately funded members of the royal family.”
It was also determined that “there is no basis for publicly funded security support for the duke and duchess within Great Britain.”
Harry’s attorney, Shaheed Fatima, emphasized the personal nature of the situation: “There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake.”
She continued, “There’s a person sitting behind me who’s been told he’s getting a special bespoke process when he knows and has experienced a process that is manifestly inferior.”
Who covers Prince Harry’s security now?
Royal family security in the U.K. is publicly funded. However, since relocating overseas, Prince Harry and Meghan have relied on private protection services.
Harry has taken legal action against RAVEC’s decision regarding the level of protection he receives during visits to Britain.
The High Court was previously told that his “status” had changed due to his no longer being a “full-time working member of the royal family.”
Harry has argued that his children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, cannot feel “safe” or “at home” in the U.K. unless they are afforded police protection during visits.