Editing Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex (section)

===Stepping back and subsequent public appearances===
{{further|Megxit}}
In January 2020, the Duke and Duchess announced that they were stepping back from their role as senior members of the royal family, and would balance their time between the United Kingdom and North America.<ref>{{cite news|title=Duke and Duchess of Sussex step back from senior royal duties. Read their full statement|url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/08/uk/harry-meghan-step-back-from-royal-family-full-statement-gbr-intl/index.html|work=CNN|date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020|archive-date=9 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200109020325/https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/08/uk/harry-meghan-step-back-from-royal-family-full-statement-gbr-intl/index.html|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/prince-harry-and-meghan-to-step-back-as-senior-royals-and-split-time-between-britain-and-north-america/2020/01/08/564f3e32-3249-11ea-971b-43bec3ff9860_story.html|title=Prince Harry and Meghan to 'step back' as senior royals and split time between Britain and North America|newspaper=The Washington Post|first1=William|last1=Booth|first2=Karla|last2=Adam|date=8 January 2020|access-date=8 January 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-date=4 April 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200404223408/https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/prince-harry-and-meghan-to-step-back-as-senior-royals-and-split-time-between-britain-and-north-america/2020/01/08/564f3e32-3249-11ea-971b-43bec3ff9860_story.html|url-status=live}}</ref> A statement released by the Palace confirmed that the Duke and Duchess were to become financially independent and cease to represent the Queen.<ref name="Statement-2020">{{cite news|url=https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/secret-message-hidden-in-queens-statement/news-story/a4be63ab82e8fd5078933029d7ace33f|title=Queen rejects Harry and Meghan's plan|website=news.com.au|first=Daniela|last=Elser|date=20 January 2020|access-date=21 October 2020|archive-date=8 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308111505/https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/celebrity-life/royals/secret-message-hidden-in-queens-statement/news-story/a4be63ab82e8fd5078933029d7ace33f|url-status=live}}</ref> At the time of the announcement of Harry and Meghan's decision to "step back" as senior members of the royal family in 2020, 95% of the couple's income derived from the £2.3 million given to them annually by Harry's father, Charles, as part of his income from the [[Duchy of Cornwall]].<ref name=TeleJan2020>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2020/01/10/prince-harry-meghan-does-fortune-come-will-make-money/|title=Prince Harry and Meghan: Where does their fortune come from – and how will they make money?|date=10 January 2020|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|first=Josh|last=White|access-date=6 April 2020|url-access=subscription|archive-date=25 March 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200325023646/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2020/01/10/prince-harry-meghan-does-fortune-come-will-make-money/|url-status=live}}</ref> The couple retain their HRH stylings but are not permitted to use them.<ref name="Statement-2020"/> The formal role of the Duke and Duchess was subject to a twelve-month review period, ending in March 2021. In March 2020, Harry attended the opening of the Silverstone Experience in [[Silverstone Circuit]] together with racing driver [[Lewis Hamilton]]. Harry's appearance at the museum was his final solo engagement as a senior royal.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-northamptonshire-51770835/prince-harry-joins-lewis-hamilton-to-open-silverstone-museum|title=Prince Harry joins Lewis Hamilton to open Silverstone museum|work=BBC News|date=6 March 2020|access-date=11 March 2020|archive-date=11 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211131107/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-england-northamptonshire-51770835|url-status=live}}</ref> He and Meghan attended the [[Commonwealth Day]] service at Westminster Abbey on 9 March 2020, which was their last engagement as a couple before they officially stepped down on 31 March. Harry's personal wealth was estimated at £30 million by ''[[The Daily Telegraph]]'' in 2020.<ref name=TeleJan2020/> Two years later, they made their first official appearance in the UK in June 2022 while attending the [[Platinum Jubilee National Service of Thanksgiving]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61685845|title=Prince Harry and Meghan navigate a tricky return to duty|work=BBC|first=Daniela|last=Relph|date=3 June 2022|access-date=7 June 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922063148/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-61685845|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Sussexes visited the UK and Germany in September 2022 for a number of charity events in [[Manchester]] and [[Düsseldorf]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62547219|title=Harry and Meghan to visit UK in September for charity events|work=BBC|date=15 August 2022|access-date=22 August 2022|archive-date=22 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220922095645/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62547219|url-status=live}}</ref> On 8 September 2022, while Harry and Meghan were in London preparing to attend a charity event, [[Death and state funeral of Elizabeth II|Queen Elizabeth II died]] at [[Balmoral Castle]] in Scotland, and they remained in the United Kingdom for her funeral.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.yahoo.com/news/harry-meghan-cancel-engagements-the-queen-balmoral-125822728.html|title=Meghan stays in London as Harry joins Royal Family at Balmoral to be at Queen's side|work=Yahoo! News|date=8 September 2022|access-date=10 September 2022|archive-date=9 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220909231754/https://www.yahoo.com/news/harry-meghan-cancel-engagements-the-queen-balmoral-125822728.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

Harry and Meghan visited Nigeria in May 2024 to honour the work of the Invictus Games. According to CNN, their trip focused on "sports rehabilitation, mental health, and women's empowerment".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/africa/meghan-nigeria-tour-int-latam/index.html/|title=Meghan visited Nigeria as a duchess and left an African princess|work=CNN|first=Stephanie|last=Busari|date=13 May 2024|access-date=14 May 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240514160711/https://www.cnn.com/2024/05/13/africa/meghan-nigeria-tour-int-latam/index.html/|archive-date=14 May 2024|url-status=live}}</ref>

====Publicly funded police security====
Harry faced difficulties with obtaining and maintaining publicly funded security, both in Canada and the United Kingdom, after he and Meghan announced their self-demotion within the royal family. While the couple resided on [[Vancouver Island]], the [[Canadian Taxpayers Federation]] launched a petition calling for the [[Royal Canadian Mounted Police]] to cease [[Monarchy of Canada#Security|providing security]] to the Sussexes.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/rcmp-bill-for-meghan-and-harry-rises-to-93,000?id=18740|title=RCMP bill for Meghan and Harry topped $50,000|work=Canadian Taxpayers Federation|date=15 June 2020|access-date=1 February 2023|archive-date=11 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230311151935/https://www.taxpayer.com/newsroom/rcmp-bill-for-meghan-and-harry-rises-to-93,000?id=18740|url-status=live}}</ref> The Government of Canada announced RCMP security would not be provided after March 2020 when the couple's status changed.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harry-meghan-security-costs-rcmp-canada-1.5478022|title=Canada will not pay for Prince Harry and Meghan's security after March|work=CBC News|first=Evan|last=Dyer|date=27 February 2020|access-date=18 March 2023|archive-date=27 February 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227230457/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/harry-meghan-security-costs-rcmp-canada-1.5478022|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=CBC>{{cite news| url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/prince-harry-rcmp-protection-1.6276872| last=Thompson| first=Elizabeth| title=Protecting Prince Harry cost Canadians more than $334,000| date=8 December 2021| work=CBC News| access-date=3 August 2022| archive-date=3 August 2022| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220803174246/https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/prince-harry-rcmp-protection-1.6276872| url-status=live}}</ref> A similar petition circulated in the UK in mid-March 2020.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://meaww.com/petition-britain-uk-pay-stop-prince-harry-meghan-markle-security-25-million|title=Petition calls for UK to stop footing Harry and Meghan's $25M security bill: 'They have made their choice'|work=MEAWW|first=Ishani|last=Ghose|date=19 March 2020|access-date=1 February 2023|archive-date=1 February 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230201175628/https://meaww.com/petition-britain-uk-pay-stop-prince-harry-meghan-markle-security-25-million|url-status=live}}</ref> The backlash in the two countries led President [[Donald Trump]] to preemptively assert that the United States would not pay either; though, the couple never intended to ask for it while in the US.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52086992|title=Trump says Harry and Meghan must pay for security|work=BBC News|date=29 March 2020|access-date=1 February 2023|archive-date=19 April 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210419111928/https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52086992|url-status=live}}</ref>

In January 2022, it was reported that Harry had been in a legal fight since September 2021 over the Home Office's refusal to allow him to pay for police protection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60012238|title=Prince Harry in legal fight to pay for UK police protection|work=BBC|first=Joseph|last=Lee|date=15 January 2022|access-date=16 January 2022|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208193416/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60012238|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/16/uk-too-dangerous-for-us-to-visit-says-prince-harry-meghan|title=UK too dangerous for us to visit, says Prince Harry|work=The Guardian|first=Caroline|last=Davies|date=16 January 2022|access-date=16 January 2022|archive-date=23 September 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220923160253/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/jan/16/uk-too-dangerous-for-us-to-visit-says-prince-harry-meghan|url-status=live}}</ref> He had made the offer to pay during the [[Sandringham Summit]] and "self-evidently believed" that it would be passed on to the government.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/article/prince-harry-could-not-afford-private-security-without-earning-prkpgzghq|title=Prince Harry 'couldn't afford private security without earning'|work=[[The Times]]|first=David|last=Brown|date=17 March 2023|access-date=18 March 2023|url-access=subscription|archive-date=17 March 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230317210430/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prince-harry-could-not-afford-private-security-without-earning-prkpgzghq|url-status=live}}</ref> Following the first court hearing of the case by the [[High Court of Justice|High Court]], it was revealed that Harry had 'exceptional status' and the Royal and VIP Executive Committee (RAVEC) still determined his personal protective security on a case-by-case basis.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60438739|title=Prince Harry says UK still his home as he bids for police security on visits|work=BBC|first=Dominic|last=Casciani|date=18 February 2022|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=5 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221205162629/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60438739|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/18/prince-harry-does-not-feel-safe-in-uk-lawyers-tell-high-court|title=Prince Harry 'does not feel safe in UK', lawyers tell high court|work=The Guardian|first=Ben|last=Quinn|date=18 February 2022|access-date=19 February 2022|archive-date=9 November 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109044559/https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2022/feb/18/prince-harry-does-not-feel-safe-in-uk-lawyers-tell-high-court|url-status=live}}</ref> After receiving applications by the Duke and the Home Office to keep parts of the case private, the High Court ruled in March 2022 that some parts of it would remain confidential.<ref name="BBC-Mar202">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60860357|title=Prince Harry: Parts of legal case to be kept secret, court says|work=BBC|first=Alex|last=Therrien|date=24 March 2022|access-date=24 March 2022|archive-date=10 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221210035626/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-60860357|url-status=live}}</ref> Mr Justice Swift also reacted to the Duke's legal team sending a copy of the ruling to someone who was not a lawyer, describing it as "entirely unacceptable".<ref name="BBC-Mar202"/> In July 2022, Mr Justice Swift granted permission for part of Harry's claim to proceed for a judicial review.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62265278|title=Prince Harry wins bid to challenge security decisions|work=BBC|first=George|last=Bowden|date=22 July 2022|access-date=22 July 2022|archive-date=8 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221208192851/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-62265278|url-status=live}}</ref>

Harry filed a lawsuit against the Home Office and the [[Metropolitan Police]] in August 2022, challenging the decision by RAVEC from January 2022 which stated that State security could not be made available to private individuals even if they wished to pay for it themselves.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/royal-family/article/prince-harry-sues-uk-government-reduced-security-team-qrt3zbn7q|title=Prince Harry sues UK government again over reduced security team|work=[[The Times]]|first=Valentine|last=Low|date=5 August 2022|access-date=7 August 2022|url-access=subscription|archive-date=8 August 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220808013539/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/prince-harry-sues-uk-government-reduced-security-team-qrt3zbn7q|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/prince-harry-files-new-lawsuit-against-u-k-government-tensions-remain-police-security-1730681|title=Harry Files New Lawsuit Against U.K. Government in Sign Tensions Remain|work=Newsweek|first=Jack|last=Royston|date=4 August 2022|access-date=5 August 2022|archive-date=2 December 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202030940/https://www.newsweek.com/prince-harry-files-new-lawsuit-against-u-k-government-tensions-remain-police-security-1730681|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2023, a High Court judge ruled that the second case should be thrown out;<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.newsweek.com/prince-harry-buy-armed-police-uk-home-office-lawsuit-security-1800559|title=Prince Harry Should not Be Allowed to 'Buy' Armed Police—U.K. Home Office|work=Newsweek|first=Jack|last=Royston|date=16 May 2023|access-date=16 May 2023|archive-date=16 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516153845/https://www.newsweek.com/prince-harry-buy-armed-police-uk-home-office-lawsuit-security-1800559|url-status=live}}</ref> however, the decision was later appealed by Harry's legal team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prince-harry-court-home-office-b2339791.html|title=Prince Harry in court again over payment for security|work=The Independent|first=Jess|last=Glass|date=16 May 2023|access-date=16 May 2023|archive-date=16 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230516143832/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/prince-harry-court-home-office-b2339791.html|url-status=live}}</ref> He lost the legal challenge in May 2023, meaning that he will not be allowed to make private payments for police protection.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65609209|title=Prince Harry loses challenge to pay for police protection in UK|work=BBC News|first=Sean|last=Coughlan|date=23 May 2023|access-date=23 May 2023|archive-date=23 May 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230523094306/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65609209|url-status=live}}</ref> In June 2023, a [[Freedom of Information Act 2000|Freedom of Information]] request revealed that Harry's legal fight with the Home Office had cost £502,236, with £492,000 covered by the state and the remaining £10,000 covered by Harry.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.geo.tv/493829-prince-harrys-high-court-case-expected-to-cost-taxpayers-over-1-million|title=Prince Harry's High Court case "expected to cost taxpayers over £1 million"|work=Geo News|date=17 June 2023|access-date=20 June 2023|archive-date=11 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240211131218/https://www.geo.tv/|url-status=live}}</ref> In February 2024, the High Court ruled against Harry in his case against the Home Office and upheld the decision by RAVEC, stating that there had been no unlawfulness in the decision-making process for his security arrangements.<ref name="Feb24-Ravec">{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68421992|title=Prince Harry loses High Court challenge over UK security levels|work=BBC News|first1=Sean|last1=Coughlan|first2=Alex|last2=Binley|date=28 February 2024|access-date=28 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228164333/https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-68421992|archive-date=28 February 2024}}</ref> In April 2024, he lost an initial attempt to appeal against the ruling.<ref name="Guardian-appeal24">{{cite news|url=https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/15/prince-harry-duke-of-sussex-loses-initial-attempt-to-appeal-against-security-ruling|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415212537/https://theguardian.com/uk-news/2024/apr/15/prince-harry-duke-of-sussex-loses-initial-attempt-to-appeal-against-security-ruling|title=Prince Harry loses initial attempt to appeal against security ruling|work=The Guardian|first=Matthew|last=Weaver|date=15 April 2024|archive-date=15 April 2024|access-date=15 April 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite his lawyers' attempts to have him pay no more than 50% of the Home Office's legal costs of defending his challenge, the judge held him liable for 90% of the costs.<ref name="Guardian-appeal24"/> It was also revealed that during the proceedings Harry had leaked information via email to "a partner of Schillings" and to [[Johnny Mercer (politician)|Johnny Mercer]], for which he apologised to the court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/04/15/prince-harry-apologises-confidentiality-rules-high-court/|title=Prince Harry apologises for breaking confidentiality rules in High Court case|work=The Telegraph|first=Victoria|last=Ward|date=15 April 2024|access-date=15 April 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240415205613/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/royal-family/2024/04/15/prince-harry-apologises-confidentiality-rules-high-court/|archive-date=15 April 2024}}</ref> In May 2024, he was given permission by the [[Court of Appeal (England and Wales)|Court of Appeal]] to challenge the High Court's decision.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7228zd319lo|title=Prince Harry can appeal against UK security ruling|work=BBC News|first=James|last=Gregory|date=6 June 2024|access-date=7 June 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240607070904/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c7228zd319lo|archive-date=7 June 2024|url-status=live}}</ref> His appeal was rejected by three senior judges in May 2025 and he was likely to be held liable for the UK government's legal fees.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c2kvw2pvw8eo|title=Prince Harry loses legal challenge over security|work=BBC News|first1=Sean|last1=Coughlan|first2=Sean|last2=Seddon|first3=Tom|last3=Symonds|date=2 May 2025|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/prince-harry-loses-appeal-for-uk-government-funded-security-detail|title=Prince Harry loses appeal for UK government-funded security detail|agency=Associated Press|via=PBS|first=Brian|last=Melley|date=2 May 2025|access-date=2 May 2025}}</ref>