A barrister for the Home Office has described the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (Ravec) as a “delegate” of the Home Secretary, who is “the democratically-accountable decisionmaker”.
In oral submissions about the role of Ravec, Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, told the Court of Appeal today: “If the wrong decision is made, the fallout from that comes to the secretary of state. She is the democratically-accountable decisionmaker and Ravec is operating through her.
“Ravec is able to draw upon expertise and is itself expert and experienced in a thoroughly important way.”
Sir James later said Ravec’s decisions “are made in the context of and about security, including national security”.
Tara Cobham9 April 2025 11:46
Prince Harry was listening intently to barristers for the Home Office presenting their submissions before the Court of Appeal.
He picks up his phone and appears to type a long message during the hearing.
The Duke of Sussex folds his arms and gazes at the ceiling before handing a barrister a note.
During the one hour public section of the hearing, he wipes his brow before whispering to a lawyer to his left side.
He then goes back to staring ahead to follow proceedings as Sir James Eadie KC, for the Home Office, makes submissions outlining the reason why he should receive a different degree of taxpayer-funded protection when in the country.
Barney Davis9 April 2025 11:18
A Court of Appeal judge has warned against “asking the wrong question” and acting in any “knee-jerk” ways in such an “important case”.
On the second day of Prince Harry’s hearing, the judge said: “It seems to be, at the moment, that it might be the case that we are asking the wrong question.”
He continued: “The question is whether the authority has failed to follow the policy, as interpreted by the court, without good reason.”
He suggested the question “should not be split up as both sides tend to be doing”, to avoid getting into “irrationality”.
He added: “This is an important case. We don’t want to get it wrong and we don’t want to knee jerk.”
Tara Cobham9 April 2025 11:13
Prince Harry’s decision to step back as a senior working royal has been described as so unusual as to be in a “category of its own” at his appeal hearing challenging his UK security arrangements.
A barrister for the Home Office told the court today: “There is nothing about the appellant’s announcement in January 2020 that he was to step back from his role in the royal family and spend most of his time abroad was usual.”
He added: “It was a category of its own.”
Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle made the decision to step back from their roles as senior royals in January 2020 (PA Wire)
Tara Cobham9 April 2025 11:02
The second day of the Duke of Sussex’s appeal has started at the Court of Appeal.
Harry sat behind his barristers with a notepad, pen and bottle of water in front of him, arriving in Court 73 a few minutes before the hearing began.
Tara Cobham9 April 2025 10:38
The Duke of Sussex has taken his seat in court as the second day of his security challenge is set to begin shortly.
Wearing a dark blue suit, and holding a notebook and pen, Prince Harry went to sit with his lawyers at the back of the courtroom.
Tara Cobham9 April 2025 10:27
The Duke of Sussex has arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of the second day of his appeal over his security while in the UK.
Harry is challenging the dismissal of his High Court claim against the Home Office over the 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.
After attending the first day of the case on Tuesday, the duke arrived at the court in central London at around 10.10am on Wednesday.
Harry, 40, wore a dark suit and waved to reporters as he entered the building.
The hearing before Sir Geoffrey Vos, Lord Justice Bean and Lord Justice Edis is due to resume at 10.30am.
Sir Geoffrey previously said that some of Wednesday’s hearing will be held in private because of confidential matters being discussed, before concluding in public.
The Duke of Sussex arrives at the Royal Courts of Justice, central London, on Wednesday (Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Tara Cobham9 April 2025 10:16
(AP)
(REUTERS)
(Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
(Jordan Pettitt/PA Wire)
Barney Davis9 April 2025 10:16
Barney Davis9 April 2025 10:03
King Charles has met with the Italian Prime Minister ahead of becoming the first British monarch to address a joint session of the Italian Parliament.
King Charles met Giorgia Meloni before visiting a round table on “Clean Energy Supply Chains.”
He will then head to the Palazzo Madama, the seat of the Italian Senate, where he will speak before a joint session of Parliament.
In the evening, the King will attend private meetings as well as a state banquet hosted by President Matarella.
It is the 17th official visit of King Charles to Italy and his first major journey since a brief hospitalisation due to side effects of his cancer treatments.
(REUTERS)
Barney Davis9 April 2025 09:59
