Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, is currently embroiled in a legal battle against the U.K. government over the downgrading of security measures for him and his family since February 2020. In an interesting turn of events, his legal team may use Taylor Swift’s case as a precedent to help overturn this decision. When Swift faced a serious security issue during her Eras Tour concerts at Wembley Stadium in August, she was provided with police escorts. This response came after a terror plot led to the cancellation of three of her tour dates in Austria.
Harry, aged 40, has been fighting this issue in court for over four years. Although he initially lost the case in April, he is currently appealing the decision, with the hearing scheduled for spring 2025. According to a source close to the situation, Harry wants to ensure the safety of himself and his family while in the U.K., allowing his children to experience their home country and enabling him to continue working with his charities without fear.
The source further highlights that there are significant inconsistencies in how protection decisions are made by U.K. authorities. The fact that Taylor Swift was granted armed police escorts during her performances at Wembley Stadium in August 2024 raises questions about transparency and consistency within the process. The insider adds that Prince Harry is being treated differently from everyone else and emphasizes the need for a more systematic and transparent approach to protection decisions.
The Metropolitan Police stated that their decision-making process is based on a thorough assessment of threat, risk, harm, and individual circumstances. However, they do not comment on specific details regarding protective security arrangements. This ongoing security issue has also worsened Prince Harry’s estrangement from his father King Charles. During his visit to the U.K. in May, Harry sought to discuss this matter with Charles as he believes the king has the power to reinstate their security to previous levels. Buckingham Palace, however, has refused to comment on security provisions and clarified that the notion of Charles being responsible for Harry’s security is incorrect.
Harry’s team argues that his threat level remains high, despite his non-working role within the royal family. Having served two tours of duty in Afghanistan, he became a target of terrorist threats, and his family has also faced domestic extremist threats. Neil Basu, a former head of counterterrorism for the Metropolitan Police, acknowledged that both Harry and Meghan had one of the highest threat assessments within the royal family. Basu stated that Harry’s military service, global recognition, and marriage to a mixed-race woman contribute to his elevated threat level.
The decision to downgrade Harry and Meghan’s security was made by a committee called RAVEC (Review and Assessment of Vulnerabilities in Exposed Communities). This committee includes representatives from the Home Office (equivalent to Homeland Security in the U.S.), the Metropolitan Police, and the Royal Household. Although King Charles does not have direct involvement with RAVEC, members of his staff sit on this committee. The government has maintained that they provide rigorous and proportionate security measures but refrain from disclosing specific details to protect individuals’ safety.
Prince Harry continues his fight for increased security measures through legal means, using Taylor Swift’s case as an example of inconsistent decision-making regarding protection. The outcome of this ongoing battle will have significant implications for not only Prince Harry but also for how security decisions are made for members of the royal family in the future.