Defiant Prince Harry will return to UK despite his concerns, claims expert
Prince Harry will not stop his visits to the UK despite concerns over security after losing his High Court battle against the Home Office, a security expert claims.
The Duke of Sussex had been taking legal action over the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) after being told he would no longer be given the "same degree" of publicly-funded protection when in the country. After losing the High Court challenge over his personal security arrangements, former head of royal protection Dai Davies says Harry will still return to his home country.
"He won't be put off, his Chief of Protection appears to be an ex-Sergeant in royalty protection and is obviously highly trained. The other thing is even if he [Harry] doesn't have armed protection, he will get the liasion structure that would go with it," Davies exclusively tells The Mirror.
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Prince Harry lost his battle against the UK Home Office last month after a High Court judge upheld the decision to 'downgrade' his security (Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)Davies continued: "In other words, as far as it's humanly possible if RAVEC decided through intelligence - and they get the best intelligence there is - after this furore over his protection, you can rest assured they have gone over it. They have stood by it, the government has stood by it, and the Home Office. It's nothing personal, and as a former professional, I would apply those principles of, 'Is it necessary and does the intelligence warrant it?' Every time he's been here of late, to see his father or royalty, he's had royalty protection."
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Davies also added: "The last time somebody drew a gun was in 1974 when Princess Anne was attacked in the mall and that's the last time a role to protection officer actually drew their gun so the risk level is low. It's not to say it can't happen, of course it can."
A royal security expert has revealed he doesn't think the security battle will stop the Duke from visiting the UK (AFP via Getty Images)The comments from Davies come after last month saw Harry lose his High Court battle against the UK Home Office over security for himself and his wife Meghan Markle and their two children. Harry had been trying to overturn a ruling which saw his security status downgraded after he stopped being a "working royal", as he cited concerns over his safety and that of his wife and two young children.
Following High Court ruling, details of Harry's case have been made public - including his fears for his family when he visits Britain. Much of the legal proceedings surrounding the case, which covered security arrangements for senior figures, were held in private in December, with the ruling issued by retired High Court judge Sir Peter Lane last month. Harry's legal team have claimed he was "singled out" and treated "less favourably" by RAVEC, with Harry’s barrister Shaheed Fatima KC last month telling the High Court: "The claimant’s consistent position has been, and remains, that he should be given state security in light of the threats/risks he faces." After the decision ruled against him, the Duke revealed he plans to appeal the decision.
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