Prince Harry is in the middle of a high-stakes legal battle for police protection in the U.K., and it’s not just about royal protocol – it’s about a real threat to his life, apparently from Al-Qaeda.
In a closed session at London’s Royal Courts of Justice, Prince Harry’s legal team revealed that he requested special protection after a disturbing threat from Al-Qaeda. According to court documents, the group allegedly called for his assassination after his official security was stripped in 2020.
The threat isn’t new. After stepping down from royal duties with Meghan Markle, Harry lost automatic, state-funded police protection. His legal team now argues that this downgrade left him dangerously exposed. They claim his life has been targeted partly due to his military service in Afghanistan, something he openly discussed in his memoir Spare. In that book, Harry reflected on combat operations that caught the attention of extremist groups – putting a bigger target on his back.
During the hearing, Harry’s lawyer, Shaheed Fatima, said Al-Qaeda issued a message stating his murder “would please the Muslim community.” She emphasized that the current security setup – where Harry gets protection only on a case-by-case basis – isn’t enough. The real issue? No proper risk assessment was ever conducted when his full-time protection was removed, something the legal team says is a major failure.
This isn’t just a fight over technicalities. Harry’s team is calling it a matter of survival. Fatima stressed the “human dimension” of the case, reminding the court that this isn’t just about procedure but a man’s safety. “There’s a person whose life is at stake,” she said. Harry’s presence in court, she argued, shows just how seriously he takes this.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex now live in California with their children, Archie and Lilibet. Harry has said he doesn’t feel safe bringing his family back to the U.K. under current conditions. The lack of a formal security review has only deepened that fear. Even after several appeals, the government has not provided the essential RMB analysis that would determine if the current security is sufficient.
There’s also the question of whether King Charles could step in. Harry reportedly believes that as head of state, his father has the power to restore protection – but the palace has denied that. The silence from the royal family has only worsened the emotional distance between them.
Speaking to PEOPLE after court, Harry said the case has confirmed his “worst fears.” He called the legal process “exhausting and overwhelming,” and hinted that the public would be shocked by details still being kept under wraps. His legal team remains cautiously optimistic, but the final ruling is still pending. According to The Times, the losing side could be on the hook for about $1.9 million in legal costs.
Should Harry have to fight this hard for protection after all he’s done in service to the country?
- Robert De Niro’s Daughter Airyn Comes Out as Trans: “I Want to Be Seen” - April 30, 2025
- New Magicians, Same Tricks: First Look at Now You See Me: Now You Don’t! - April 30, 2025
- Jeremy Renner Opens Up About the Moment That Nearly Killed Him - April 30, 2025
