An updated edition of a royal book has revealed King Charles fears if he repairs his relationship with Prince Harry, he could be dragged into his son’s legal case regarding his security in the UK, placing him in “legal jeopardy”.
Robert Hardman’s biography, ‘Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story’, which was published earlier this year, is in hardback with new material to be released on November 7.
It reveals Harry’s determination to pursue action against the Home Office about his security detail, which in turn has “driven a wedge” between father and son, as reported in the Daily Mail.
Hardman writes: “‘So imagine the situation,’ says the adviser, ‘if the Prince were to talk to his father about his court case and then later to describe that conversation – or, worse, a conversation which was not entirely accurate. There would be serious legal jeopardy.’
“‘Harry would only have to say, ‘My father said this’ and a court case could collapse,’ says the adviser. ‘That’s not just awkward. That’s bad. That is deep legal and constitutional jeopardy when you are head of state and of the judiciary and it is His Majesty’s Government.”
Discussing the situation on Palace Confidential, Rebecca English, the Daily Mail’s Royal Editor, previously stated: “Prince Harry firmly believes his father has the ability to overrule and to get his security reinstated. The point is repeatedly made that King Charles does not have the power to do that. If he were to interfere it would be a serious constitutional matter.”
When Harry stepped down as a working royal in 2020 to eventually reside in California, America, with his family, he was stripped of his police protection.
The committee deciding on security for royalty and senior public figures, known as Ravec, consequently changed Prince Harry’s level of protection when his status changed.
Harry received full publicly funded protection before stepping back as a working royal and eventually moving to America with his wife Meghan Markle four years ago.
In an interview with ITV titled ‘Tabloids on Trial’, Prince Harry mentioned his fears for Meghan Markle and her safety in the UK. In an interview with ITV titled ‘Tabloids on Trial’, Prince Harry mentioned his fears for Meghan Markle and her safety in the UK.
Harry explained: “It’s still dangerous, and all it takes is one lone actor, one person who reads this stuff to act on what they have read.”
He added: “Whether it’s a knife or acid, whatever it is – and these are things that are of genuine concern for me. It’s one of the reasons why I won’t bring my wife back to this country.”
Harry first sought a judicial review over the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) to remove his right to automatic police protection after he left the working Royal Family. However, the Court of Appeal granted him leave to challenge the High Court judgment back in May.
Now a court official has confirmed that a date has been set for Harry’s appeal to be heard in London, starting on either April 8 or 9 next year.
The Mail On Sunday revealed that a two-day hearing will go ahead in April in the latest dramatic twist to Harry’s three-year legal fight with the British government about his UK security.
