Tensions between Prince Harry and King Charles III are further heightening following another London court’s refusal of Harry’s plea to self-fund he or his family’s police protection while in the UK.
Royal commentator Shannon Felton Spence and author Christopher Andersen share the view that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are unlikely to return to the UK for a lengthy stay. Spence interprets Harry’s previous claims of feeling unsafe in the UK, their relocation to California, the recent court ruling, and their departure from Frogmore Cottage as indications of their hesitance to return. Andersen suggests that only significant events, such as a royal funeral or court summons, would bring the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and family back to the UK in the foreseeable future.
In 2020, following their decision to step down from senior royal duties, the UK government withdrew Prince Harry and Meghan’s police protection. Consequently, Harry legally contested his family’s continued protection, proposing to fund it privately. However, the government’s legal counsel opposed the idea, citing the inappropriateness of deploying police officers as private security for wealthy individuals.
Justice Martin Chamberlain sided with the government, stating that the rejection of Harry’s bid to self-finance his police protection was both consistent and reasonable. Royal specialist Ian Pelham Turner considers the court’s refusal to allow the couple to fund their security a significant setback privately.
As the separation between the monarchy and government is clear, King Charles III does not possess the authority to overturn the court’s ruling. Although Prince Harry may still contest the denial of state-funded security in a separate lawsuit, if successful, the expenses for police protection would fall on UK taxpayers. Nonetheless, Andersen suggests that King Charles III is unlikely to order such matters and would likely respect the decisions