‘Can’t be bought’: Major blow to Prince Harry lawsuit

The Duke of Sussex has been told police officers are not for sale as “private bodyguards” to the wealthy, a court heard.

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The UK’s Met police could not be bought off as “private bodyguards for the wealthy”, Prince Harry has been told in court.

In a major blow to the Duke’s legal challenge for state-sponsored security in the UK, lawyers for the government argued before the High Court that specialist protection officers used for high-profile security should only put themselves in harm’s way when it’s in the public interest.

Prince Harry doesn’t feel his family is safe in the UK without police security. Picture: Getty Images

Prince Harry has sought a judicial review of the decision to remove his police protection following his resignation as a working royal to move to the United States with his wife Meghan Markle.

Matthew Butt KC, for the Metropolitan Police, protective security officers expose themselves to unique risks

“It cannot be right that officers are expected to expose themselves and present themselves to that level of risk when it is not in the public interest but because a policing body is going to be financially compensated for it,” he said, according to the UK Telegraph’s reporting of court proceedings.

Prince Harry’s lawyers claimed at the preliminary hearing that private civilians were allowed to pay for special police protection under the Police Act of 1996.

Only Prince Harry returned to London for the King’s coronation, with Meghan Markle remaining in California with their kids, Archie and Lilibet. Picture; Supplied

Prince Harry has said he doesn’t feel safe bringing his son Archie, 4, and daughter Lilibet, 2, to the UK without a police security detail with access to government intelligence.

Prince Harry’s lawyers claimed at the preliminary hearing, which will decide whether the Duke can bring the legal case against the Home Office, that private civilians were allowed to pay for special police protection under the Police Act of 1996.

“Parliament has clearly decided that in principle, payment for policing is not inconsistent with the public interest,” lawyer Shaheed Fatima argued before the committee, according to the Associated Press.

Originally published as ‘Can’t be bought’: Major blow to Prince Harry lawsuit