London (AP) — Prince Harry has publicly expressed a strong desire to mend ties with his estranged family after losing a significant legal case concerning his UK security arrangements, a case that has further strained his relationship with his father, King Charles III.
“I would love reconciliation with my family. There’s no point in continuing to fight anymore,” Harry said during an emotional interview with the BBC, shortly after a Court of Appeal decision rejected his plea to reinstate publicly funded police protection.
The ruling marked a pivotal moment for the Duke of Sussex, who emphasized that the outcome had severely impacted his communication with his father. “He won’t speak to me because of this security stuff,” Harry remarked. The prince also added, “I don’t know how much longer my father has,” referencing King Charles’s ongoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer.
Buckingham Palace, Security, and the Court’s Decision
Harry claimed that palace officials played a critical role in his security being downgraded after he stepped away from royal duties and relocated to the United States in 2020. He alleged that the decision, made by a government committee that included Buckingham Palace representatives, left him and his family vulnerable to threats.
The appellate court, however, ruled unanimously that the committee acted reasonably. Justice Geoffrey Vos stated that Harry’s arguments, while emotionally compelling, did not constitute legal grounds to overturn the decision. “An unintended consequence of his decision to step back from royal duties… has been that he has been provided with a more bespoke, and generally lesser, level of protection,” Vos said.
The judgment also upheld a prior High Court decision which found the current security arrangements neither irrational nor unlawful. As a result, Harry is expected to pay substantial legal fees both for his team and the UK government.
Strained Family Ties and Calls for Accountability
Despite expressing a longing for reconciliation, Harry remained sharply critical of the system. “What I’m struggling to forgive… is the decision that was made in 2020 that affects my every single day, and that is knowingly putting me and my family in harm’s way,” he said.
He also appealed directly to UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, urging a review of the security decision-making process. Harry asserted that the King could resolve the issue by removing palace interference and allowing independent security experts to decide the matter fairly.
Emotional Toll and Rare UK Appearances
Prince Harry revealed the emotional strain the ongoing legal and familial battles have taken on him, stating he now only visits the UK for funerals and court cases. He also lamented that the situation has made it impossible to safely bring his children to his homeland.
During the two-day court hearing last month, Harry’s legal team highlighted specific threats, including one from Al-Qaida and a high-profile paparazzi chase in New York, as evidence that the reduced protection places him and his family in real danger.
Mixed Legal Record Against UK Press and Government
While he lost this key security case, Harry has previously succeeded in other legal battles. In 2023, he won a trial against the Daily Mirror for phone hacking and secured a significant settlement. More recently, Rupert Murdoch’s UK tabloids apologized and paid damages in another privacy case. A similar case against the Daily Mail remains pending.
As Harry navigates his complex position—between a life of relative freedom in the U.S. and a legacy of royal expectations—his court loss and public appeal for reconciliation may mark a turning point, both legally and personally. But with Buckingham Palace backing the court’s decision, and no signs of outreach from the royal household, the road to reconciliation remains uncertain.
