Prince Harry’s UK security under review amid new threats

Prince Harry’s security arrangements for UK visits are being reassessed by the Home Office after a May court ruling denied his request for reinstated police protection.

In May 2024 the Court of Appeal dismissed Prince Harry’s bid to have his regular police protection restored when he steps foot on British soil. The duke told the BBC that returning with his wife Meghan and their children would be “impossible” because he could not guarantee their safety.

The security downgrade dates back to 2020, when Harry and Meghan stepped back from frontline royal duties and relocated to the United States. Their protection was then placed under the remit of the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec), a Home Office committee that decides threat levels for senior royals.

Harry’s lawyers argued that Ravec failed to reassess the threats he faced after the 2020 move, claiming he was “singled out” for inferior treatment. A senior judge, however, ruled that the duke’s sense of grievance did not constitute a legal basis for overturning the decision.

Sources close to the prince say a fresh Home Office review is long overdue and that the process to re‑evaluate his threat level is already under way. According to The Sun, a final decision on whether Harry will automatically receive full police protection on future visits is expected next month.

Buckingham Palace responded that the courts have examined the matter “repeatedly and meticulously” and reached the same conclusion each time. A government spokesperson added that the UK’s protective security system is “rigorous and proportionate” and that details cannot be disclosed for fear of compromising their integrity.

“I’m devastated,” Prince Harry said in a BBC interview.

“Our long‑standing policy is not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security,” the spokesperson said.

For Ghanaians, the saga highlights how security assessments for high‑profile individuals are handled in Westminster, a subject of interest to the sizable Ghanaian diaspora living in the UK and the US. Observers will be watching the Home Office’s verdict, which could set a precedent for future security negotiations involving former royals and other public figures.

The review is expected to be concluded in the coming weeks, after which a statement from the Home Office will confirm whether Prince Harry will regain automatic, high‑level protection on his next UK visit.

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