Prince Harry and Meghan Markle “felt forced” to step again from their roles as senior members of the royal household, a London courtroom has heard.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, is within the UK for a two-day enchantment to win again taxpayer-funded safety element for him and his household.
Throughout Tuesday’s courtroom listening to, Harry’s authorized crew claimed that he and the “Suits” alum, 43, had been made to step again as working members of the Agency “as they considered they were not being protected by the institution.”
The Sussexes “wished to continue their duties in support of the late Queen as privately funded members of The Royal Family,” the Invictus Video games founder’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima KC, advised the courtroom.
In January 2020, Harry and Markle made the bombshell announcement that they’d be splitting their time between the UK and the US — along with them not being senior working members of the royal household
The transfer was intently adopted by a everlasting trans-Atlantic sprint to North America, the place the couple have remained since shutting the door on royal life for good.
Consequently, the duo’s safety was downgraded.
Harry’s crew, nevertheless, now insists {that a} formal course of by no means befell earlier than he and his spouse had been stripped of public-funded safety.
His safety “does not appear to have been discussed at any formal RAVEC [Royal and VIP Executive Committee] meeting,” Harry’s lawyer advised the courtroom.
As an alternative, there was a gathering at Buckingham Palace on Jan. 27, 2020, to debate the matter.
Harry’s lawyer claimed that the Royal and VIP Government Committee (RAVEC) “diverted” from its commonplace course of and didn’t submit correct documentation explaining their determination to strip Harry of safety privileges.
His authorized crew additional claimed that the runaway prince was “singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment” and provided much less safety than others within the “Other VIP Category.”
The duke’s legal professionals added that the UK’s therapy of him was “unlawful and unfair,” and warned of “the impact on the UK’s reputation of a successful attack” in opposition to him.
King Charles’ youngest son complained about not feeling secure sufficient to return to his dwelling soil along with his spouse, Meghan Markle, and their two youngsters Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, as a result of “it is too dangerous.”
In February 2024, London’s Excessive Court docket dominated to strip the Sussexes of taxpayer-funded UK safety safety.
The daddy of two was ordered to pay 90% of the UK Residence Workplace’s authorized prices for defending the courtroom’s preliminary ruling.
Sir Peter Lane, the choose of the Excessive Court docket, dominated that there was no unlawfulness in stripping the duo of their safety.
Following the ruling, Harry has tirelessly appealed the choice in a defiant effort to win the safety element again for him and his household — however has notably obtained zero assist from the royals.
He has since expressed disappointment at his estranged household’s lack of assist amid his varied authorized battles.
