A somber Prince Harry faced Britain’s Court of Appeal alone this week in his continuing fight to restore full security protection during UK visits. The duke’s solitary court appearance – without wife Meghan or other family members present – highlighted the ongoing rift between the Sussexes and the royal establishment.
The case centers on Harry’s claim that removing his automatic right to police protection puts his family at risk. In emotional prior testimony, he described being unable to visit his ill father or introduce his children to their British roots without fearing for their safety. “This isn’t about privilege,” Harry has argued. “It’s about basic security for my family.”
Yet the British public remains divided. Social media commentary ranged from sympathy to scorn, with many questioning why taxpayers should fund protection for someone who voluntarily left royal duties. “You can’t have it both ways,” read one typical comment.
As judges deliberate this complex case, their decision could redefine what obligations the British state owes to former working royals – and whether Harry’s transatlantic life can ever include safe passage home.
