Prince Harry throws peace sign as he enters court in surprise UK visit

Prince Harry has arrived at the High Court in central London (Picture: AFP)

Prince Harry flashed a peace sign to photographers as he entered the High Court for a highly anticipated legal hearing this morning.

The Prince landed in the UK just hours before his father jetted off to Italy for a state visit.

King Charles and his youngest son have had a strained relationship since Harry left royal life to live in America with his wife and two children.

The King’s youngest son will attend an appeal against a High Court decision about his armed bodyguards.

In 2024, a High Court judge dismissed Harry’s claim against the Home Office over security arrangements for himself and his family when they are in the UK.

But Harry’s lawyers said he was ‘singled out’ and treated ‘less favourably’ in the 2020 decision about his armed security guards – prompting the appeal, which will last for two days, beginning today.

Last year, it was revealed his legal fight against the Home Office’s decision had cost the UK government more than £600,000.

The Duke of Sussex arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, for the start of his appeal against a High Court ruling on his legal claim against the Home Office over the level of security he receives while he is in the UK. Picture date: Tuesday April 8, 2025. PA Photo. Harry took legal action against the Home Office over the February 2020 decision of the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) that he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country. See PA story COURTS Sussex. Photo credit should read: Jonathan Brady/PA Wire — He threw a peace sign to those nearby (Picture: PA)

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Harry has argued that he, his wife Meghan and their children Archie, five, and three-year-old Lilibet, are at risk on trips to his home country, including from ‘racism and extremism’.

One of the examples used by the military veteran’s legal team is a security incident in July 2021, when his car was chased by photographers as he left a charity event at Kew Gardens.

According to data released to Metro.co.uk under the Freedom of Information Act, the Home Office costs amount to £569,559 for an ongoing judicial review bid and £27,257 for a second, which has concluded.

This includes £359,075 for the government’s legal department, £225,941 for counsel and £170.28 in courier fees across the two cases.

Court fees amount to £2,310 and E-disclosure to £11,319 to date in the ongoing case.

ROME, ITALY - APRIL 07: EDITORIAL USE ONLY. NO SALES. (Copyright vests with Getty Images and publications are asked to credit Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace. All terms of release must be adhered to. The photograph has been distributed with permission from Royal Communications. The photograph is being made available by way of license on condition that: The image shall be solely for news editorial use only. The image should be used only in the context of the 20th Wedding Anniversary. No charge should be made for the supply, release or publication of the image. There shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the image (including any use in merchandising, souvenirs, or memorabilia; or anything similar, advertising or any other non-editorial use). The image must not be digitally enhanced, manipulated or modified in any manner or form. THE IMAGE SHALL NOT BE USED AFTER 0001hrs, 21st APRIL 2025. After that date, no further licensing can be made, please remove from your systems and contact Getty Images for any usage) King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose for a portrait at Villa Wolkonsky on April 07, 2025 in Rome, Italy. Ahead of the 20th Wedding Anniversary of Their Majesties, King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Wednesday 9th April 2025, we are issuing a photograph of them taken today by Chris Jackson at Villa Wolkonsky, in Rome. The photograph was taken on the first day of Their Majesties four day State Visit to the Holy See and The Republic of Italy. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images for Buckingham Palace) — The King and Queen were all smiles at Villa Wolkonsky in Rome (Picture: PA)

Britain's Prince Harry (R) and his fiancee, US actress Meghan Markle leave after attending a Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in central London, on March 12, 2018. - Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has been the Head of the Commonwealth throughout her reign. Organised by the Royal Commonwealth Society, the Service is the largest annual inter-faith gathering in the United Kingdom. (Photo by Daniel LEAL / AFP) (Photo by DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images) — Prince Harry cited worries for his wife Meghan and their two children (Picture: AFP)

The legal battles followed the duke and duchess stepping back from royal duties at the start of 2020 when they relocated to Montecito in California.

The Sussexes have privately funded security but the prince has argued during his challenge that the ‘case by case’ protection offered in the UK is ‘unreasonable’ because it creates ‘excessive uncertainty’ for his protection team. He is obliged to give 28 days’ notice before a visit.

In May last year, the prince was reported by The Daily Telegraph to have turned down an invitation from his father to stay at Buckingham Palace because of security concerns.

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

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Prince Harry throws peace sign as he enters court in surprise UK visit

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