The lawyer for Prince Harry warned that his “life is in danger” because of changes to his security after he stepped down from royal duties, as the prince returned to the London Court of Appeal courtroom today for the hearing of his appeal over changes to his protection status in Britain.

Wearing a dark suit and striped tie, Harry, the youngest son of King Charles, who only rarely visits the British capital anymore, appeared before the court again seeking to overturn a decision by the Home Office, which is responsible for policing, which ruled in 2020 that he would not automatically receive personal security while in Britain.

“No one should forget the human dimension in this case: a man is sitting behind me whose safety and whose life are at risk,” his lawyer Shahid Fatima told the court as Harry watched her plea.

Al Qaeda called for Harry’s murder

She had said in court documents released yesterday that Al Qaeda had recently called for Harry’s murder and that he and his wife, Meghan, were involved in a “dangerous paparazzi chase in New York City” in 2023.

Harry and his wife, Meghan, moved to the US after abdicating their royal duties in 2020. They then lost the systematic police protection as provided for active members of the royal family, paid for by British taxpayers, with the Home Office choosing protection on an as-needed basis.

Harry, now 40, appealed to the courts in 2021, challenging that decision. After his claim was rejected at first instance last year, he appealed.

Earlier, Home Office lawyer James Indy defended the “case-by-case” approach adopted by the British authorities, arguing that this approach was “better suited” to the prince’s case.

Much of the hearing was held today in camera because of the sensitive nature of the information about Harry’s safety and the threats to which he could be exposed.

The appeals court will issue its written decision at a later date, “very likely” after Easter, Judge Jeffrey Voss said after the hearing.