Prince Harry is likely to miss his grandfather the Duke of Edinburgh’s memorial service next month as his legal battle over security in the UK continues.
The rebel prince ‘does not feel safe’ visiting the country without police protection, his representatives told a court on Friday.
But the Home Office has turned down his request for security from Scotland Yard, despite the Duke of Sussex’s offer to pay for it himself.
This decision is now the subject of court proceedings after Harry sued in the hope of getting it overturned.
In the meantime royals expect him to stay at home in Montecito, California, meaning he will likely miss key events this year.
The Queen and other family members are set to hold a service of thanksgiving for Prince Philip at Westminster Abbey on March 29, almost a year after his death aged 99.
A source close to the Royal Family told the Mail on Sunday: ‘They don’t think it’s likely he’ll come back because it would undermine his position that it’s too much of a threat.’
It is not known when the legal case will be resolved and it could also affect Harry’s participation in events in June to mark the Platinum Jubilee.
He hasn’t been back to the UK since the July 1 unveiling of the Diana, Princess of Wales memorial statue last year.
His wife Meghan and son Archie have never been back since the family left to pursue new lives in the US. Senior royals have not met the couple’s youngest daughter, Lilibet, in person.
Shaheed Fatima QC, the lawyer for the duke, told the Royal Courts of Justice on Friday that ‘It goes without saying that he does want to come back to see family and friends and to continue to support the charities that are so close to his heart.
‘Most of all, this is and always will be his home.’
The couple lost their taxpayer-funded protection when they quit as senior royals in 2020 and have since had to fund their own private security.
Harry is arguing that his team in the US does not have adequate jurisdiction abroad or access to UK intelligence information which is needed to keep his family safe.
He is challenging the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) over his security.
Robert Palmer QC, for the Home Office, told the court the duke’s offer of private funding was ‘irrelevant’.
In written submissions, he said: ‘Personal protective security by the police is not available on a privately financed basis, and Ravec does not make decisions on the provision of such security on the basis that any financial contribution could be sought or obtained to pay for it.’
Both sides are waiting to hear if the case will progress to a full hearing.
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