In response to the BBC’s report, Buckingham Palace released a statement through a spokesperson: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”
Prince Harry’s hopes of returning to the UK have become more difficult — not just because of legal decisions, but also because of how the public feels about it. When he appeared in court last month, it was a major moment in his ongoing legal fight with the Home Office, which he also spoke about in a recent interview.
On Tuesday, April 8, Prince Harry was seen arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in London. His visit for the court hearing sparked strong reactions online, with many people criticizing his continued fight for police protection while in the UK.
Wearing a dark suit, Harry arrived in a black Range Rover. He waved to the media but didn’t answer any questions, including one about whether he planned to meet with his father, King Charles III, during his trip.
This court visit is part of a legal case that started back in September 2021. At that time, Harry filed a lawsuit challenging a decision made in February 2020 by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (Ravec), which downgraded his security while in the UK.
That decision came after Harry and Meghan Markle stepped back from their royal roles and moved to the United States. So, the hearing on April 8 — where three judges began reviewing the legal arguments — was a big moment for Harry, who has said that not having government-provided security has made it very hard for him to return to the UK.
Back in December 2023, during a court hearing, a statement from Prince Harry was read out loud. In it, he talked about his wife and children. “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,” the statement said.
He went on to say, “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.”
Harry explained that he couldn’t take the chance of putting his wife in danger. Given everything he’s experienced in his life, he was also very cautious about risking his own safety without a strong reason.
The two-day hearing at the Court of Appeal drew a lot of attention, with many people waiting to hear what the judges would decide. As photos of Harry returning to the UK appeared on social media, reactions came quickly. Some people expressed anger over his continued request for taxpayer-funded security.
People didn’t hold back their opinions. One person wrote, “What a shame.” Another critic said, “He should be ashamed to waste taxpayers money like this.” Others shared the same view, saying, “What a disappointment he turned out to be.”
Doubt quickly followed, with one comment asking, “Really? At this point, He is demanding security from the UK?”
Some brought up Prince Harry’s past choices: “He made a choice. He wanted nothing to do with Royal duties and serving the people of the UK.”
The debate continued, with someone else adding, “He’s not a working royal, he doesn’t earn that protection.”
Watch the moment Prince Harry arrives at the Court of Appeal, as he continues his fight against the Home Office’s decision in 2020 to roll back his publicly funded police protection in the UK.https://t.co/HJAaDIIdzc
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— Sky News (@SkyNews) April 8, 2025
One person showed clear frustration, saying, “The entitlement of this man is staggering.” Another wondered about the timing, asking, “Is it a coincidence that Charles and Camilla are away on a trip to Italy, when Harry turns up in the UK?”
As Prince Harry’s legal fight went on, it was obvious that his connection to the UK—both with the royal institution and the public—remains complicated and full of emotion.
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