Inside who picks up hefty tab for Harry's court cases as Duke plans appeal

29 February 2024 , 10:37

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The Duke of Sussex plans to appeal against the High Court ruling

Prince Harry's legal battle with the Government over his UK security will reportedly cost around £1million.

The Duke of Sussex has announced he will seek to appeal against the High Court ruling after he lost his long-running battle against the Government over the level of his personal security in the UK today. Harry took legal action against the Home Office after a February 2020 ruling said his family would no longer qualify for protection when in the country.

It came after Harry and his wife Meghan Markle announced they were stepping down from their senior royal duties in January 2020 and made the move over to California. It emerged last year that the couple spends a hefty amount - reportedly around $2million (£1.58million) a year - on security for themselves and their young children in the US.

It has been claimed by a former member of the Royal Family's security team that Harry's court case will cost British taxpayers £1million (DAILY RECORD)

In the ruling on Wednesday morning, retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane rejected the Duke's case and concluded Ravec's approach was not irrational nor procedurally unfair. Sir Peter said Harry's lawyers had taken "an inappropriate, formalist interpretation of the Ravec process". The Duke's lawyers said he was "singled out" and treated "less favourably" by the body.

Harry's legal spokesperson said in a statement of the Duke's plans to appeal: "The Duke is not asking for preferential treatment, but for a fair and lawful application of Ravec's own rules, ensuring that he receives the same consideration as others in accordance with Ravec's own written policy." He will make no further comment while the case is ongoing.

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In December, when the hearing took place in London, a former member of the Royal Family's security team claimed the legal security row would cost British taxpayers up to £1million. Ex-head of security Dai Davies told GB News: "The truth is [Harry] actually gets protection every time [he's in the UK], anything to do with royals - and he's here as a Prince - yes of course he gets it.

"What he wants is armed protection when he comes here and has done for a number of years." Mr Davies added: "He brings his own protection teams who are not armed, but a number of them are former royalty protection officers. If there's a threat, if there's any kind of issue, he will be afforded the protection he wants. This is a storm in the cup and it's going to cost you and I about £1million."

In November last year, a Freedom of Information request revealed the Home Office had spent £407,827 on legal fees since Harry's case started. The cost of the Family's security is secret on grounds of national security - but estimates of the cost to the taxpayer range from between several million pounds to as much as £100m, according to the Institute for Government think tank.

Nia Dalton