Prince Harry has asked the Home Secretary to re-examine the security group that handles protection for senior royals. His request came after he lost an appeal in the Court of Appeal over his security arrangements in the UK.

Earlier, the High Court rejected Harry’s claim against the Home Office. He had challenged a decision by Ravec (the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures). This group ruled that he would get a different level of protection while visiting the UK.

After the court’s decision on Friday, the Duke of Sussex spoke to the BBC. He said he would urge Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to “look at this very, very carefully.” He warned that royal control over security could be used to influence family members.

Harry Asks for Government Involvement

When asked if Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer should step in, Harry replied, “I think that based on the judgment that the court has put out today, it clearly states that Ravec are not constrained by law. Again, I wish somebody had said that from the beginning.”

He added, “Yes, I would ask the Prime Minister to step in. I would ask Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary, to look at this very, very carefully and I would ask her to review Ravec and its members, because if it is an expert body, then what is the Royal Household’s role there, if it is not to influence and decide what they want for the members of their household?”

Background of the Dispute

The issue started after Harry and Meghan stepped back from their royal duties in 2020. They first moved to Canada and then settled in California. In the latest ruling, Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos said that Ravec’s decision was “understandable and perhaps predictable.”

Harry’s legal team argued that Ravec should have followed its usual process. Normally, it gets a risk report from the risk management board. But Sir Geoffrey said the High Court judge, Sir Peter Lane, had valid reasons to support Ravec’s approach.

Why the Court Sided with the Government

Sir Geoffrey explained that some of the policies were internal and not publicly available. He also noted that special arrangements for Harry’s UK visits made sense under the circumstances.

In response to the decision, Harry said: “I think what really worries me more than anything else about today’s decision, depending on what happens next, it sets a new precedent that security can be used to control members of the family, and effectively, what it does is imprison other members of the family from being able to choose a different life.”

He added, “If, for me, security is conditional on having an official role, one that both myself and my wife wish to carry on, but then was rejected, not by Ravec, was rejected by the Royal Household, and the result to that is you lose your security. That basically says you can’t live outside of their control if you want to be safe.”

Concern for His Family’s Safety

Harry said he now finds it “impossible” to bring Meghan and their children—Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet—back to the UK safely. “I can only come to the UK safely if I am invited, and there is a lot of control and ability in my father’s hands,” he told the BBC.

He continued, “Ultimately, this whole thing could be resolved through him, not by intervening, but by stepping aside and allowing the experts to do what is necessary.” He also said, “That said, this all was initiated under a previous government. There is now a new Government. I have had it described to me, once people knew about the facts, that this is a good old-fashioned establishment stitch-up, and that is what it feels like.”

Government’s Response

A Home Office spokesperson reacted to the ruling. They said, “We are pleased that the court has found in favour of the Government’s position in this case.” The spokesperson added, “The UK Government’s protective security system is rigorous and proportionate. It is our long-standing policy not to provide detailed information on those arrangements, as doing so could compromise their integrity and affect individuals’ security.”