Al Qaeda called for Prince Harry "to be murdered" and said his "assassination would please the Muslim community", the High Court heard today.
The bombshell claim was made by the Duke of Sussex's lawyer during his legal battle with the Home Office over security protection.
Shaheed Fatima KC told the Court of Appeal that Harry's security team were informed the terrorist group had published a document which said his "assassination would please the Muslim community".
The exact date of Al Qaeda's alleged assassination threat was not revealed in the legal submission.
Al Qaeda called for Prince Harry "to be murdered" and said his "assassination would please the Muslim community", the High Court heard today
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Harry, 40, was at the Court of Appeal after suing the home secretary when the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) withdrew his automatic right to police protection.
In his 2023 memoir, the Duke of Sussex controversially described killing 25 Taliban fighters in Afghanistan as "chess pieces taken off the board".
In written submissions, Ms Fatima said: "On January 8 2020, (the Duke of Sussex) and his wife felt forced to step back from the role of full-time official working members of the royal family as they considered they were not being protected by the institution."
The couple had wished to continue their duties "as privately funded members of the royal family", according to Harry's legal team.
Prince Harry served in the British Army for 10 years
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Fatima also told the court that Harry and Meghan were involved in a "dangerous car pursuit with paparazzi" in New York in May 2023.
This incident involved "reckless disregard of vehicle and traffic laws".
The duke's lawyer argued that his security "does not appear to have been discussed at any formal RAVEC meeting".
She added there were "no official notes or detailed minutes recording the approach to be taken" to his protection.
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Fatima said RAVEC failed to undertake a risk management board assessment, and instead created a "different and so-called 'bespoke process'" for Harry.
The Home Office, legally responsible for RAVEC decisions, is opposing the appeal.
Sir James Eadie KC said in written submissions that the appeal "involves a continued failure to see the wood for the trees", arguing the duke cannot show that his circumstances were "so exceptional as to justify" the specific process he seeks.
The hearing before Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edis is due to conclude on Wednesday and a decision is expected in writing at a later date.
