The Duke of Sussex’s appearance in court indicates a significant moment in his followed legal fight against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK.
Prince Harry was captured arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Tuesday, April 8. His return to the UK for a court sparked strong reactions online, with many commentators voicing their dissatisfaction over his ongoing legal battle for security.
The duke, dressed in a dark suit and arriving in a black Range Rover, appeared at the media outside but declined to respond to questions about his father, King Charles III, during the visit.
This latest court appearance is part of a long-running legal battle that started in September 2021. Back then, Harry published legal action challenging the decision made by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec) in February 2020 to reduce his UK security.
That decision supported his and his wife Meghan Markle’s withdrawal from royal duties and their move to the US. Therefore, the meeting is a major moment for the duke, who has said his ability to visit the UK has been significantly limited by the lack of government-provided security.
During a previous court hearing in December 2023, a statement from Harry was announced aloud: “It was with great sadness for both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020,”
It added, “The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the US. That cannot happen if it’s not possible to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.”
Now, the two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal is ongoing, with many closely watching and awaiting the judges’ decision.
As images of Harry’s return spread across social media, public reaction was unexpected. Several people shared their feeling at his continued demands for publicly funded protection.
One person commented, “What a shame.” Another critical voice added, “He should be ashamed to waste taxpayers money like this.”
The third user commented, “Really? At this point, He is demanding security from the UK?”
Some people indicated Harry’s past decisions, “He made a choice. He wanted nothing to do with Royal duties and serving the people of the UK.” One user stated, “He’s not a working royal, he doesn’t earn that protection.”
