As the Duke of Sussex returns to the courtroom this week, attention once again turns to the ongoing legal battles that have kept Prince Harry at the centre of legal and royal headlines alike. His appeal against a High Court decision regarding security arrangements in the UK will be heard at the Court of Appeal on Tuesday and Wednesday, potentially setting a precedent for how senior non-working royals are treated in terms of personal protection.
Here is a look at the current status of Harry’s major legal proceedings.
UK security challenge
Prince Harry’s primary focus this week lies in his challenge against the Home Office concerning his security while in the UK. The dispute centres on a February 2020 decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), which determined that the Duke would no longer receive the “same degree” of publicly-funded security for himself and his family when visiting the UK.
Harry’s legal team argued that this decision was “unlawful and unfair,” asserting that the committee failed to properly assess the risk of a successful attack against the Duke and did not carry out a full risk analysis. They also claimed the Prince was “singled out” and treated differently from others in similar positions.
The Government defended the decision, stating that Ravec acted within its remit and was right to conclude that any security for Harry should be “bespoke” and assessed on a “case-by-case” basis.
In February 2024, the High Court sided with the Home Office. Retired judge Sir Peter Lane dismissed the Duke’s claim, saying that Harry’s legal team had adopted “an inappropriate, formalist interpretation” of the security process. However, the Duke was granted permission to appeal that ruling in June, and the hearing is now taking place this week in London.
Legal action against associated newspapers
Harry is also involved in a high-profile lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, over alleged unlawful information-gathering. He is among a group of claimants that includes Sir Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence. The group accuses ANL of engaging in a range of illicit practices, including hiring private investigators to plant listening devices, “blagging” confidential medical and financial information, and tapping phone conversations.
ANL has vehemently denied all allegations and previously argued that the claims should be struck out because they were filed too late. In March 2023, Harry made a surprise appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice to attend a preliminary hearing.
In November 2023, Mr Justice Nicklin rejected ANL’s bid to halt the claims, ruling that the cases could proceed. As a result, the legal action is expected to go to full trial, likely in early 2026.
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Settlement with news group newspapers
Earlier this year, Prince Harry reached a legal settlement with News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World. The Duke had alleged that he was the victim of unlawful newsgathering tactics by journalists and private investigators acting on NGN’s behalf.
The two parties reached a resolution just before a lengthy trial was scheduled to begin. On 22 January 2025, it was announced that NGN had issued a “full and unequivocal apology” to Harry and agreed to pay “substantial” damages.
The publisher acknowledged “incidents of unlawful activities” between 1996 and 2011 and expressed regret for the distress caused to the Duke, his relationships, and his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. NGN has stated that there was no voicemail hacking at The Sun and that current safeguards are in place to prevent similar actions today.
Lord Tom Watson, the former deputy Labour leader and one of the claimants in the same case, also settled his claim.
With multiple legal fronts still active, Prince Harry remains a prominent figure in both royal and judicial spheres. This week’s appeal hearing could have significant implications for the balance between royal status and state-funded protection in the modern era.
