Prince Harry’s ‘life is at stake’, court hears

London: Prince Harry’s lawyer warned his “life is at stake” over changes to his security after stepping down from royal duties, as the prince returned to London’s Royal Courts of Justice for his appeal about adjustments to his protection in Britain.

Harry, King Charles’ younger son, is trying to overturn a decision by the Home Office – the ministry responsible for policing – which decided in 2020 he would not automatically receive personal police security while in the country.

Prince Harry outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Tuesday.Credit: Ben Whitley/PA via AP

“One must not forget the human dimension to this case: there is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake,” his lawyer Shaheed Fatima, KC, told the court on Wednesday, UK time, as Harry watched on.

She had said in court filings made public on Tuesday that al-Qaeda had recently called for Harry to be murdered and that he and his wife Meghan had been involved in “a dangerous car pursuit with paparazzi in New York City” in 2023.

Harry stepped back from his royal duties in 2020 and now lives in California with Meghan and their two children.

His challenge was rejected last year, with the High Court ruling the decision was lawful, but he was granted permission to appeal.

Harry, 40, regularly conferred with his legal team on the final day of the two-day hearing, at times shaking his head, as the government’s lawyers argued that it was the right decision to adopt a “bespoke” approach to his security.

“The basis for the decision-making and the bespoke approach being adopted was that it had positive advantages from a security assessment point of view,” James Eadie, representing the Home Office, said.

After part of the hearing concerning specific security arrangements was heard in private, Fatima said the case was incredibly important to the prince.

“His presence here and throughout this appeal is a potent illustration, were one needed, of how much this appeal means to him and his family,” she said.

While Harry had been told he was getting “a special bespoke process ... he knows and has experienced a process that is manifestly inferior in every respect”, Fatima said.

Meanwhile, Charles and Queen Camilla – who are on a state visit to Italy – held a previously unannounced meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican, Buckingham Palace and the Vatican announced.

The couple had been due to make a formal state visit to the Vatican but postponed their plans after doctors prescribed Francis two months of rest after the pontiff experienced a serious bout of double pneumonia.

The Pope met the monarchs privately and offered his best wishes for their 20th wedding anniversary, according to a Vatican statement.

King Charles speaks nest to Italian President Sergio Mattarella (centre) and his daughter Laura Mattarella (third left) at the state banquet.Credit: Getty Images

Charles and Camilla spent their anniversary evening at a state banquet hosted by Italian President Sergio Mattarella at his Quirinale residence which prompted a quip from the King:

“Today marks, as you say, the Queen’s and my 20th wedding anniversary. On that score, I must say it really is very good of you, Mr President, to lay on this small, romantic, candle-lit dinner for two.”

He had earlier became the first British monarch to address a joint session of the parliament in Rome, switching between English and Italian and drawing warm applause.

“Peace is never to be taken for granted,” he said.

“Britain and Italy stand today united in defence of the democratic values we share. Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need, and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter,” he added.

The King praised Anglo-Italian plans to develop with Japan a new fighter jet as part of the Global Combat Air Program initiative.

Britain quit the European Union in 2020 and the royal visit is seen as part of an ongoing effort by London to engage with its old EU allies and ease the pain of the Brexit divorce.

King Charles and Queen Camilla in Rome on Wednesday.Credit: AP/Vincenzo Livieri

Reuters