Harry’s security case

[smilesy]

The judgment is in Harry loses High Court challenge over UK security protection www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-68421992 See here

Having skimmed the judgement, it seems there's a whole apparatus with more than half a dozen key people and many minions required to ensure security for the cohort of people who require whatever degree of (armed or not) security in England, Wales and Scotland. I've also understood why Diana felt that keeping security meant she was being spied on: everything is coordinated through the monarch's private secretary (for cause). If you want security in those three nations, you have to tell the royal household who will cascade to the various people, who all report back to the royal household etc etc. Nothing moves very quickly, and the 28 day notice period seems very reasonable. Emails, phonecalls, meetings, documents back and forth. Personally I think the whole thing could probably be massively streamlined, but I'm not used to the public sector. I gather the civil service is as much about the nation providing employment as to the administration of government...

As for Harry, it's clear from the judgement that he was raised and was and still is accustomed to people doing things for his benefit and ease. From being addressed as "your royal highness" as a young boy, to asking for things and them happening, to people making decisions on your behalf - it all just magically appeared, without him ever having to think or do or pay for it. He has nothing to say about public funds being scarce. It's just "I want, I want, I want". On the other hand, I can see how he might have felt infantilised all his life: he's had decisions made for him all his life, either for his benefit or that of the monarchy as a whole.

The whole thing just reads as a very slow, very clunky machine in which various individuals are mandarins or pawns, moved about and manipulated for the better good of the country in return for a life of privilege and comfort. Harry wants the privilege and comfort, without any of the downsides. And it makes me think that Kate is as successful as she is because she chose this trade off, and had her eyes wide open. Meghan, not so much (and truthfully, I can see how she might have been frustrated by it all!).

Was the time he visited the Queen to make sure she had the right people around her ???

So many ridiculous statements from one man @Mylovelygreendress !

Of course. He’s obsessed with his mother and what happened to her. At the same time he still seems to have a confused and childlike understanding of it all. He doesn’t understand how the system he was born into actually works. He doesn’t seem to have any critical thinking skills either. He also has no regard for the tax payer , just his own grandiose self importance and egotism.

shenandoahvalley some interesting points you have raised. Spoilt brat combined with She-Ra it was never going to work.

he wouldn’t listen to anyone who suggested the house they wanted wasn’t suitable.

during the 70’s and the IRA days, security reviews were carried out of the royal residency’s. This lead to some being sold or no longer used for royalty, because they couldn’t secure them / it wasn’t cost effective. It would be the same with the mansion, but he wouldn’t like being told that.

Surely the Home Office will be able to get Harry to pay at least some of their expenses, given that they won?

At one of the first hearings, their lawyer did say that they intend to claim back their expenses. I hope they do, because they had to fight this ridiculous 'case' with taxpayers' money.

Funny how Harry's supporters say he shouldn't be criticised because he's not costing the taxpayer anything. Given that he's just cost the taxpayer half a million pounds and if he had his way, would cost them even more with on tap security every time he decides to leave his California mansion to bless Blightly with a visit, then I would say their reasoning is faulty.

Maybe they can’t claim their costs until it is decided whether Harry can appeal or not 🤷‍♀️

Yes, good point.

Is he really going to appeal? Because he will surely lose. In which case it's going to cost him even more. And for what? As the article says, he already does receive security in Britain when there is deemed to be a need. This is all one big hissy fit. An expensive one. But hopefully not so much for the taxpayers.

Well, the instant response of 'we will appeal' sounded to me bit like the slam of a teenager's bedroom door when they haven't got what they wanted.

A careful reading of the judgement by someone qualified might identify areas where the judge's interpretation of the law could be challenged, who knows?

I doubt Harry's legal team had time to do that before announcing that they would appeal.

In the Depp v Amber trial she had to pay the award before she was able to appeal we should have a similar system here to stop people racking up huge costs

High Court judgments are normally released to the parties, under strict rules of confidentiality, a week or so before they will be publicly released. This is so the parties can check for factual errors etc.

In this case, because of the need for redactions to be agreed, Harry and the Home Office had the draft for nearly a month before it was released (the exact dates were shown on the front page of the judgment). So in this case they would have had a chance to consider whether they’d have grounds to appeal.

That last day of trial production of the letter from the New York police may have been a bid to throw the case into uncertainty and provide grounds to appeal. I'd love that letter to be given the same scrutiny as Catherine's photo.

The appealing is a normal response even with no intent to do so. It’s a bit like having the last word after a loss. This is more so in a public case, the appealing headline will soften the loss and is good PR on front page coverage. The date of passing to appeal may make page 6 and if it does make the front it gives the person another exposure on how hard done they have been or similar

Fair enough, then presumably they have found grounds for appeal

“My dad financially cut me off” was one of the big Oprah revelations so if he’s lying then he’s being a dick.

Even if he wasn't lying, it's hard to feel sorry for him. The Oprah interview took place in early 2021. Imagine going on national TV, whining about your dad cutting you financially while living in a 14 million mansion and with millions in the bank that your mum left you in inheritance. Meanwhile, million of people had lost their job and small businesses due to pandemic

Also, I know this might be a dumb question but about his security, Harry allegedly pays $1,000,000 yearly for his security.
His security is huge. From what I've seen, he travels with a motorcade everywhere he goes

He barely comes to the UK anyway. Why can't he just hire private security when he's in the UK? Or maybe bring some of his US security with him?

The US team can’t even manage properly in NYC, they’d be lost in London. And can’t carry their mini Glock suitcases there, either.

Didn't they drive round one block in a big motorcade in NYC? Embarrassing when you think of all the huge celebrities who manage to travel around the city without all that pallaver.

His complaint is that private security can't carry arms in Britain, nor would they have access to intelligence. However, elite security firms liase with the police in Britain, and if there is believed to be any genuine danger, appropriate armed security would be provided.

But Harry knows this as he has been told it several times. I really think this is all about ego for him. He wants what his brother has, even though their status and circumstances are very different.

And I'm not sure about the motorcade. He did have one on his flying visit to London a few weeks ago, but I think that was mostly to get him through London traffic in time to see the King, who was about to helicopter off to Sandringham. He does not have police security in America, so I doubt he has motorcades there.

I think they had a motorcade last time they were there, which only drove them a couple of hundred yards or something but was in response to the “car chase” from the previous time they were in NY. Although how much of that was the police taking the piss and over compensating I’m not sure 😆

Maybe they should include mini Glock
cases for sale on the ARO website 🤔😆

But did they have a motorcade going to and from the airport, for example? Or was this just for show? They don't have motorcades driving them around California either. In fact, I don't think they'd have had motorcades even as working royals in Britain, unless maybe on high profile occasions.

Depends what you mean by motorcade. When working the Royals will usually have at least one other car with them, plus motorcycle outriders and sometimes riders to clear / block side roads in advance. Same for senior politicians (we have a friend who is in special protection and they look after both)

But no I don’t think the Sussexes had a motorcade from the airport (at least there was no coverage of it)

When working the Royals will usually have at least one other car with them, plus motorcycle outriders and sometimes riders to clear / block side roads in advance. Same for senior politicians

Which I suppose is as much about getting them to engagements on time, and not keeping loads of people waiting, as security.

(Was so impressed with the outriders who escorted the late Queen on her journey from Northolt to Buckingham Palace through rush hour traffic in the pouring rain.)