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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Benedict Tetzlaff-Deas

Prince Harry wins latest court fight against Home Office over security arrangements

Prince Harry has won the latest stage of his court fight against the Home Office in the High Court over his security arrangements.

The Duke of Sussex began a legal challenge against the Home Office in February after it refused to allow him to pay for his own protection while visiting the UK.

The ruling on Friday (July 22) at the High Court means he will now be able to take the case for a judicial review.

He and his team had argued that his US-based entourage do not have sufficient jurisdiction in Britain to be able to protect him properly.

They further argued his hiring of police officers during the duration of his trips would come at no cost to the taxpayer.

Harry's team had argued a decision not to allow him to pay for his own security was 'materially prejudiced' (GC Images)

But the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which falls under the remit of the Home Office, ruled last June that he could no longer be entitled to the "same degree" of security as he is now a private citizen.

Harry's lawyers said in an appeal last month that the decision had been made with "procedural unfairness" as he had not been able to make "informed representations" before his application was denied.

In the first stage of the case earlier this month, the duke's lawyers asked Mr Justice Swift to grant permission for a full hearing to have a judge review the Home Office's decision.

The ruling at the High Court on Friday (July 22) means the Duke of Sussex's case will go for judicial review (PA)

In a judgment on Friday the High Court judge said the case could proceed, granting permission for part of Harry's claim to have a judicial review.

Mr Justice Swift said it was "arguable" whether the duke "should have had the opportunity to make representations direct to Ravec", including the opportunity to comment.

But he denied permission for other parts of Harry's claim, including his argument that he should have been told who the members of Ravec were.

The judge said: "The application for permission to apply for judicial review is allowed in part and refused in part."

"In the course of submissions it became apparent that while the claimant may have had disagreements with persons who were Ravec committee members, there was no evidence at all to support a claim that any committee member had approached decisions with a closed mind, or that either decision was affected by bias."

Prince Harry had been told he was no longer entitled to round-the-clock protection after leaving the Royal Family (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

The judge added that it "would have been better had these proceedings not been the occasion" to raise matters which do not form a part of the Harry's legal challenge.

A written argument from Shaeed Fatima QC had earlier suggested that the decision had been "materially prejudiced" because "among other things, his offer to pay (for security) was not conveyed to Ravec before the decision was made".

However, lawyers for the Home Office say Ravec was entitled to reach the decision it did, which is that Harry's security arrangements will be considered on a "case by case" basis, and argue that permission for a full judicial review should be refused.

Sir James Eadie QC, representing the Home Office, said in written arguments that any tensions between Harry and Royal Household officials are "irrelevant" to his change in status.

The Prince enjoyed round-the-clock protection in the years before he left his working role in the he left working role in the Royal Family in 2020 and moved with his family to the United States.

Neither Harry's legal representatives nor the High Court were immediately reachable for comment.

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