Prince Harry says its unsafe for his family to return to UK as he threatens legal action
Prince Harry’s lawyers has written a “pre-action protocol” letter to the Home Office suggesting they will seek judicial review if continued police security isn’t provided by the UK when they are in the country and lawyers make it clear he is happy to pay for it.
A battle in the High Court could happen if the case proceeds between Ministers and the Duke of Sussex.
Harry, who stepped down from Royal duties two years ago which meant he was stripped of round-the-clock protection, argues his private protection team in the US does not have access to UK intelligence information that is necessary to keep his wife Meghan Markle and children, Archie and Lilibet, safe when in the country.
It is understood The Queen is in the picture about the action threatened by her grandson and it is thought this is the first case a Royal Family member has brought a case against Her Majesty’s Government.
A source told The Mail on Sunday: “Harry’s argument in a nutshell is: 'You got the law wrong'. He feels the decision to remove his security was wrong. Pre-action protocol was sent by Harry’s lawyers to the Home Office a couple of months ago. This is essentially a precursor to a judicial review.”
It is understood that when Harry returned to the UK last July for the unveiling of Princess Diana’s statue he did not receive police protection but was greeted at Heathrow by Scotland Yard officers when he returned last April for Prince Philip’s funeral.
The source continued: “When Harry came back last April for Prince Philip’s funeral, he was given security. But when he came back in the summer, he wasn’t.”
Since the news of the legal action has broken, Prince Harry’s lawyers have released a full statement.
The statement reads: “Prince Harry inherited a security risk at birth, for life. He remains sixth in line to the throne, served two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan, and in recent years his family has been subjected to well-documented neo-Nazi and extremist threats.
“While his role within the institution has changed, his profile as a member of the Royal Family has not. Nor has the threat to him and his family.”
The statement goes on: “The Duke and Duchess of Sussex personally fund a private security team for their family, yet that security cannot replicate the necessary police protection needed whilst in the UK.
“In the absence of such protection, Prince Harry and his family are unable to return to his home.
“The Duke first offered to pay personally for UK police protection for himself and his family in January of 2020 at Sandringham.
“That offer was dismissed. He remains willing to cover the cost of security, as not to impose on the British taxpayer.
“As is widely known, others who have left public office and have an inherent threat risk receive police protection at no cost to them.
“The goal for Prince Harry has been simple – to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the UK so his children can know his home country.
“During his last visit to the UK in July 2021 – to unveil a statue in honour of his late mother – his security was compromised, due to the absence of police protection, whilst leaving a charity event. After another attempt at negotiations was also rejected, he sought a judicial review in September 2021 to challenge the decision-making behind the security procedures, in the hopes that this could be re-evaluated for the obvious and necessary protection required.
Become an OK! VIP and see all our exclusives – for free!
Become an OK! VIP and you will unlock access to all of our big exclusives…
Be the first to meet the latest showbiz babies, see the most sought after wedding pictures of the year, or take a guided tour around your favourite star's lavish multi-million pound home – all for free!
Sign up here
“The UK will always be Prince Harry’s home and a country he wants his wife and children to be safe in. With the lack of police protection, comes too great a personal risk.”
The statement concludes: “Prince Harry hopes that his petition – after close to two years of pleas for security in the UK – will resolve this situation. It is due to a leak in a UK tabloid, with surreptitious timing, we feel it necessary to release a statement setting the facts straight.”
OK! has contacted Prince Harry’s representatives for further comment.
For more showbiz updates, sign up for OK! 's daily newsletter here.
Source: Read Full Article