Prince Harry in financial crisis with eye-watering £1.5mn legal bill after court defeat

Prince Harry’s legal nightmare just got a lot more expensive than he would have ever imagined. 

The Duke of Sussex, 40, has officially lost his appeal in the long-running court battle over his UK security, and now faces an eye-watering £1.5 million legal bill, according to The Sun.

The hefty price tag includes costs from both sides of the legal showdown Harry’s own legal team and the Home Office, after the Court of Appeal upheld the decision to strip him of automatic police protection while visiting Britain.

The case stems from 2020, the year Harry and Meghan Markle dramatically stepped back from royal duties and moved to the US. Since then, Harry has been fighting to regain high-level security for himself and his family during UK visits.

In the latest ruling, Sir Geoffrey Vos said that while Harry’s personal concerns were “powerful and moving,” they “did not amount to a legal argument” strong enough to overturn the decision made by Ravec (the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures).

Harry now has one last option, he can take the fight to the Supreme Court, but no decision has been made.

The court defeat adds to a growing list of legal battles and royal rifts for the Duke, who has already been at the centre of multiple controversies over titles, memoirs, and media appearances in recent months.

What is Prince Harry's security case about?

In early 2020, shortly after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their roles as senior royals, the UK’s Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) downgraded his publicly funded police protection.

Harry filed a legal challenge against the Home Office, arguing that the decision puts his family at risk.

Last year, a High Court judge ruled that the decision was lawful, leading Harry to appeal. The Home Office continues to oppose his claim, stating that decisions are made on a case-by-case basis and fall under the authority of the Home Secretary.

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