Harry's life is at stake over security, lawyer warns court

Prince Harry’s life is at stake” in the clash over his UK security arrangements, his lawyer has warned the Court of Appeal on the final day of the duke’s legal challenge.

- TARA COBHAM

The Duke of Sussex is challenging the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of protection when in the UK.

In her closing submissions, Shaheed Fatima KC, for the duke, told the court: “One must not forget the human dimension to this case. There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security, and whose life is at stake.

“There is a person sitting behind me who is being told he is getting a special bespoke process when he knows and has experienced a process that is manifestly inferior in every respect.”

In what his barrister said was an illustration of how important the case is to him and his family, the 40-year-old duke, who lives in the US, attended the Royal Courts of Justice in central London for the two-day hearing.

After arriving at around 10.10am, ahead of the second day yesterday, Harry, wearing a dark blue suit, could be seen taking notes and quietly talking with members of his legal team during parts of the hearing.

When the proceedings were paused early in the afternoon, the duke was being escorted out of court by his security detail when a member of the public shouted her support for him in a dramatic outburst, adding: “If you’re members of the press, you’re the reason he’s no longer in England.”