Prince Harry has been fighting and suing the British government for several years, all because the government refused to guarantee his security and security for his family if and when they visit the UK. Harry has clearly and repeatedly offered to “pay back” the costs of high-level police protection for his visits, only the British media always reports the issue as “Harry demands taxpayer-funded royal protection!” Over the years, Harry’s fight has taken on an added dimension – he’s attempting to clarify who gave what order to remove his protection. He’s also clearly trying to reveal that the monarchy and Ravec (the secretive committee which determines royal protection) yanked the Sussex family’s security suddenly in 2020 in a high-level political effort to ensure that harm came to the family. It’s also clear that the government and the monarchy have much to hide, and they’re willing to spend a lot of taxpayer money in an attempt to cover their asses. Speaking of, the Telegraph has an exclusive about how much money the government has spent fighting Harry’s lawsuits:
Prince Harry’s failed legal bid to overturn a Home Office decision to deny him the right to automatic police protection cost the taxpayer more than £500,000, the Telegraph can reveal. The cost to the public purse will likely raise questions about the merits of a member of the Royal family taking legal action against the Government.
Figures released via a Freedom of Information request reveal that the total cost of fighting two separate judicial review claims lodged by the Duke of Sussex over his security reached £514,128. That included more than £180,000 for counsel, £320,000 for the Government Legal Department, £2,300 in court fees and almost £10,000 in e-disclosure.
Mr Justice Lane dismissed the Duke’s case in a scathing 52-page ruling handed down in February after two-and-a-half years of legal wrangling. He ruled that the decision made by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) to withdraw state-funded security for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex when they stepped back as working royals and instead review it on a case-by-case basis whenever they return to the UK had not been irrational or procedurally unfair. He also rejected the Duke’s “inappropriate, formalist interpretation” of the process and said that taxpayer-funded security should not be used to protect the Duke and Duchess from paparazzi.
The ruling left the Duke facing an estimated legal bill of more than £1 million. Undeterred, he has announced that he plans to appeal the ruling, meaning that the costs are likely to rise further.
Prince Harry continues to insist that the withdrawal of guaranteed police protection renders him vulnerable when visiting the UK. He is required to give 30-days notice of any travel plans so each visit can be assessed on its merits. Sources close to him say he is unwilling to return with Meghan or their children without the level of security he feels he needs.
Yeah, the British taxpayers have spent over £514,128 to watch the government insist, for years, that Harry, Meghan and their children are not worthy of police protection because of their “loss of rank.” At the same time, the government, monarchy and the British media have waged a hate campaign against the Sussexes, ensuring that they are in significant danger wherever they go in the UK (and in the US as well, as the mess in New York showed us). Harry has revealed something truly frightening: that the entire British security/protection apparatus believes that security should follow rank and favoritism rather than threat or need. Harry has also revealed that a lot of people with a lot of power were fine with harm coming to Harry and his family.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Backgrid.