Prince Harry's prolonged battle for family security reaches a turning point after six years.
Since stepping down from senior royal obligations in January 2020, Prince Harry has been engaged in a prolonged struggle regarding security for his family during visits to the U.K.
After relocating from England to California and subsequently losing access to publicly funded security details, Harry initiated a judicial review process in January 2022. The objective was to obtain permission to pay for private security for his family during their U.K. stays. (He and his wife, Meghan Markle, are parents to Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.)
“Prince Harry faces a security risk that began at birth and will last his entire life. He is still sixth in the line of succession, completed two tours of combat duty in Afghanistan, and in recent years his family has been exposed to widely reported neo-Nazi and extremist threats,” a representative for the Duke of Sussex stated when addressing the situation. “Although his position within the Royal Institution has shifted, his status as a royal family member remains unchanged. The level of threat to him and his family has also not diminished.”
He encountered a further setback in February 2024 when the U.K.’s High Court determined that the British government holds the authority to decide the level of protection afforded to non-working royals during visits to the country.
In December 2025, reports surfaced indicating that Harry's security requirements are scheduled for reassessment, marking the first time in six years.
Continue below for a chronological overview of Harry's efforts to ensure his family's safety during international travel:
