Prince Harry's claim about why he has not returned to UK

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Prince Harry and Meghan Markle left their senior royal roles in March 2020, and the couple are no longer considered working members of the Royal Family. As part of their exit, it was agreed Harry and Meghan would no longer officially use their HRH titles, nor would they officially represent the Queen. The Sussexes also lost their taxpayer-funded UK police protection.

Why did Harry and Meghan lose taxpayer-funded security?

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle initially expressed their wish to step back as senior royals back in January 2020.

In a bombshell post on their now-defunct Sussex Royal Instagram account, Harry and Meghan outlined their hopes to “work to become financially independent” but also to “fully support” the Queen.

After lengthy discussions with the Royal Family, it was decided Harry and Meghan could not serve the Queen in an official capacity.

The couple subsequently moved from the UK to the US, and they have since set up their family home in California with their son Archie and daughter Lilibet.

Although Meghan and Harry received UK police protection as working royals, Harry revealed in his sit-down interview with Oprah Winfrey in 2021 that they fund their own security in the US since leaving their working royal roles behind.

Harry and Meghan famously signed lucrative deals with streaming platforms Spotify and Netflix in the aftermath of their royal exit, which Harry said helped pay for security.

Harry told Oprah during the interview that all he needed “was enough money to be able to pay for security to keep my family safe”.

Why has Prince Harry filed a claim for a judicial review?

In September 2021, Prince Harry filed a claim for a judicial review against a Home Office decision which blocks Harry from personally paying for police protection for himself and his family.

The Duke of Sussex is requesting to pay for police security himself in the UK, without cost to the British taxpayer.

The full statement from Harry’s legal representative read, according to the PA news agency: “Prince Harry inherited a security risk at birth, for life. He remains sixth in line to the throne, served two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan, and in recent years his family has been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats.

“While his role within the institution has changed, his profile as a member of the royal family has not. Nor has the threat to him and his family.

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“The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed whilst in the UK. In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home.

“The duke first offered to pay personally for UK police protection for himself and his family in January of 2020 at Sandringham. That offer was dismissed. He remains willing to cover the cost of security, as not to impose on the British taxpayer.

“As is widely known, others who have left public office and have an inherent threat risk receive police protection at no cost to them. The goal for Prince Harry has been simple – to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the UK so his children can know his home country.”

Prince Harry made a brief return to the UK in July 2021 where he joined Prince William to unveil a statue of Princess Diana in the gardens of Kensington Palace.

According to Harry’s legal representative, the Duke’s security was “compromised due to the absence of police protection” during his return to the UK.

The statement added: “During his last visit to the UK in July 2021 – to unveil a statue in honour of his late mother – his security was compromised due to the absence of police protection, whilst leaving a charity event.

“After another attempt at negotiations was also rejected, he sought a judicial review in September 2021 to challenge the decision-making behind the security procedures, in the hopes that this could be re-evaluated for the obvious and necessary protection required.

“The UK will always be Prince Harry’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in. With the lack of police protection, comes too great a personal risk.

“Prince Harry hopes that his petition – after close to two years of pleas for security in the UK – will resolve this situation. It is due to a leak in a UK tabloid, with surreptitious timing, we feel it necessary to release a statement setting the facts straight.”

A Government spokesperson said that the protective security system of the UK Government “is rigorous and proportionate”, according to PA.

The spokesperson added: “It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements. To do so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.

“It would also not be appropriate to comment on the detail of any legal proceedings.”

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