Prince Harry wins right to appeal rejection of state-funded security services in UK

LONDON — Prince Harry has been allowed to appeal the British government’s refusal to provide him with state-funded police protection in the United Kingdom.

The Court of Appeal has given the Duke of Sussex the green light to challenge a ruling earlier this year at the High Court. Permission was granted in May but was not reported until Thursday.

Justice Peter Lane ruled in February that a government committee’s decision to provide “tailor-made” security as needed after Harry left his position as a working member of the royal family was not unlawful, irrational or unjustified.

“To the extent that the case-by-case approach might otherwise have caused difficulties, they have not been shown to be such as to overcome the significant obstacle and render the decision-making irrational.” writes Lane.

The long-running fight began more than four years ago when Harry first challenged the panel’s decision, arguing that he and his family needed armed security because of the hostility directed against he and his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, on social networks and tirelessly. harassed by the media.

Harry, 39, the youngest son of King Charles III, has broken royal family conventions by challenging the government in court and suing the tabloid press.

He won a major victory in December after a judge ruled that phone hacking of Mirror Group newspapers was “widespread and habitual”. He has two similar cases remaining against the publishers of the Sun and the Daily Mail.

The security case appeared dead after the High Court in April rejected his first application to appeal Lane’s decision. But Justice David Bean of the Court of Appeal said on May 23 that he could challenge the lower court’s decision.