Prince Harry's legal team have expressed they are "cautiously optimistic" about the outcome of his ongoing case against the UK Home Office.
The Duke of Sussex is currently engaged in a pivotal legal appeal to restore his automatic police protection in the UK.
His lawyers have described the security case as a fight for his life. The battle centres on the removal of Harry's automatic security when he and Meghan stepped back from royal duties in 2020.
A key focus of the recent proceedings on April 9 was the revelation that no formal risk assessment (RMB) was completed when Harry's automatic security was removed in 2020.
Prince Harry ‘cautiously optimistic’ in legal battle to bring Archie and Lilibet safely to UK
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Instead, the Government's RAVEC committee, which makes decisions on taxpayer-funded security, implemented a case-by-case arrangement based on current needs.
The open summary of submissions highlighted that Prince Harry still has not received the make-or-break RMB analysis. His legal team argues that the current security arrangement is "inadequate, inappropriate and ineffective."
Harry's lawyer Fatima delivered an emotional summary last week, stating: "One must not forget the human dimension of this case. There is a person who is sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake."
She emphasised the perceived inadequacy of the current arrangements.
Harry launched legal action against the Home Office following a 2020 decision by Ravec over his security in the UKPA"There is a person sitting behind me who's been told he is getting a special bespoke process when he knows in his experience it is a process that is manifestly inferior in every sense," she said.
She noted Harry's presence throughout the appeal demonstrated "how much this appeal means to him and his family."
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are raising their children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three, in California.
Harry's lawyers have previously stated he "does not feel safe" bringing his family to the UK following the loss of his taxpayer-funded police protection.
Prince Harry does not want to bring Meghan, Archie and Lilibet to the UK unless they have automatic police protection
Instagram / @meghanThis security concern has effectively limited the family's ability to visit Britain together. The Duke has made it clear that the safety of his family is paramount in his decision to pursue this legal challenge.
Prince Harry appeared visibly affected by the court proceedings, saying as he departed on April 9 that his "worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case, and that's really sad." He described feeling "exhausted and overwhelmed" by the process.
Shaken by information that emerged during the case, Harry told People Magazine: "People would be shocked by what's being held back."
The revelations during the legal proceedings appear to have deeply troubled the Duke, reinforcing his concerns about the adequacy of his security arrangements.
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King Charles and Prince Harry last met each other in February 2024PAHarry has long maintained that his father, King Charles, as ceremonial head of the Government, has the power to help restore his protection.
The Palace denies this principle, which has reportedly exacerbated the distance between father and son.
A ruling on the case is expected in the coming weeks. A source close to Harry's legal team told People Magazine they were "cautiously optimistic" about the outcome.
The decision will be pivotal in determining whether the Duke can safely bring his family to visit the UK in future.
