Prince Harry claims police protection was withdrawn to ‘trap’ him and Meghan Markle in UK

LONDON, ENGLAND: Prince Harry has alleged that the removal of his police protection was part of an attempt to "trap" him and Meghan Markle within the royal family.

The decision to remove his security created a major rift between him and King Charles. Harry shares that he was left shocked by the move, which was “difficult to swallow”, the Telegraph reported. 

Prince Harry bemoans intention behind removal of taxpayer-funded security

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's taxpayer-funded security was withdrawn after they stepped back from their royal duties in 2020 and prepared to relocate to the United States.

Harry was in London recently to attend a two-day appeal hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice where he is challenging the decision to remove his police protection when in the UK.

Outside the courtroom, he spoke briefly and said, “We were trying to create this happy house.”

Harry had hoped that building a peaceful life outside the royal family would help mend relations.

Instead, Harry and Meghan felt that the removal of the security detail was an alleged attempt to pressurize them into returning to the UK as well as remaining within the royal family.

Harry took legal action against the UK government, seeking to restore his official security arrangements.

He has called the case more important than his other legal battles, particularly against the tabloid press, which he once described as his “life’s work.”

Prince Harry says his 'worst fears have been confirmed'

In comments made to the publication, Prince Harry expressed his distress over the way he and Meghan Markle have been treated by the royal family.

He suggested the damage may be beyond repair. During the hearing, he claimed his “worst fears have been confirmed” by secret evidence he had heard in court.

“People would be shocked by what’s being held back,” Harry said, as per reports.

He added, “My worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case and that’s really sad," Daily Mail reported. 

The Duke of Sussex also said he was “exhausted” and “overwhelmed” by the proceedings.

Despite the outcome, the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) is not obligated to reinstate the couple’s security. Still, Harry said he is “driven by exposing injustice” and will keep fighting.

The appeal decision will be handed down by the three-judge panel after Easter.

Prince Harry had robust security arrangements during Ukraine visit

Prince Harry recently faced criticism after traveling to Ukraine, where he met dozens of wounded soldiers, while arguing that he and his family are unsafe in the UK without police bodyguards.

Critics pointed to the contradiction, but an insider told Daily Mail it was “simply incorrect” to compare the two situations.

A source close to the prince claimed that the security arrangements during the Ukraine trip were more extensive than those he receives in Britain.

“He can go to Ukraine — a country with an active warzone — because he has a robust security detail, one that he does not have in his home country,” said the source.