Prince Harry's friend urges reversal of 'spiteful' security decision
Prince Harry has several scheduled visits to the United Kingdom, including for the Invictus Games in 2027, which will be hosted in Birmingham.However, back in 2020, the Duke of Sussex was stripped of his security detail within the country. Harry has appealed the decision before, but as it currently stands, he isn't entitled to any.The Mail's Richard Eden has now reported in his Eden Confidential column that one of Harry's close friends, Alex Rayner, who previously completed a charity walk to the North Pole with Harry, has spoken out against the decisioAlex called for the 41-year-old to have his security restored, highlighting the royal's two tours of duty in Afghanistan and arguing that this military service means that Harry is more vulnerable."Harry is a royal who’s significantly served in the Armed Forces," Alex said. "To ask him to pay for it privately feels a tiny bit spiteful, given that there are other members of the Royal Family who receive it who do far less."He added: "This guy was flying Apaches in a conflict, and we've got the Invictus Games coming up in Birmingham. Are we not supporting him for that?"Harry last challenged the decision against his security arrangements in 2025; however, his appeal was dismissed following a two-day hearing by three judges.At the hearing, which was held in April 2025, barristers for the Duke told the Court of Appeal that he was "singled out" for "inferior treatment" and that his safety, security and life are "at stake".The Home Office, which is legally responsible for Ravec's decisions, opposed the appeal, with its lawyers telling the court that Ravec's decision was taken in a "unique set of circumstances" and that there was "no proper basis for challenging it.Ravec, known as the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, is the body responsible for deciding who should and shouldn't get security details.Reading a summary of the decision, Sir Geoffrey said: "The Duke was in effect stepping in and out of the cohort of protection provided by Ravec. Outside the UK, he was outside the cohort, but when in the UK, his security would be considered as appropriate."He continued: "It was impossible to say that this reasoning was illogical or inappropriate, indeed it seemed sensible."However, in December, Harry wrote to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and submitted a formal request for a risk assessment. According to a report in The Sun, Ravec has now instructed its Risk Management Board to reassess his threat level.
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