Prince Harry ordered to pay massive legal bill after UK court loss

Prince Harry has been hit with a major financial blow after losing his legal battle over police protection in the UK. 

New Freedom of Information figures reveal the case has cost the Home Office a staggering £656,324, most of which the Duke of Sussex is now expected to repay.

A judge previously ruled that Harry must cover 90 percent of the government’s legal costs, meaning the prince could be on the hook for up to £1.5 million once his own legal fees are factored in. 

The original case cost £554,000, with an additional £102,000 spent on the appeal. 

The breakdown includes over £241,000 for barristers and £394,000 for solicitors, with Harry’s personal legal expenses still undisclosed.

The Court of Appeal's ruling was unequivocal. Master of the Rolls Sir Geoffrey Vos noted that while Harry’s concerns were “powerful and moving,” they didn’t “translate into a legal argument.” 

He added the decision to reduce his security was a “predictable and sensible” outcome following Megxit.

Harry has since told the BBC, “I can't see a world in which I would bring my wife and children back to the UK.” 

Buckingham Palace responded bluntly, stating the courts had “reached the same conclusion on each occasion.”

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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