Harry told police can't be bought as 'private bodyguards for the wealthy'

Prince Harry has been told police officers cannot be bought as "private bodyguards for the wealthy" during a preliminary hearing into judicial review action brought by the Duke of Sussex.

Harry, 38, launched the action against the Home Secretary over the decision to refuse his request for police protection during a visit to the UK.

The royal was initially denied a hearing in February however his lawyers applied to overturn this decision.

The hearing heard Prince Harry offered to pay the Metropolitan Police for their services in his new life as a non-working royal after his royal security ended.

READ MORE: Priscilla Presley agrees to settlement in dispute over Lisa Marie estate

He was told he would no longer be given the "same degree" of personal security by Metropolitan Police when he visited the UK, with those services only provided if it is in the public interest.

This hearing will decide if the matter goes forward to a full trial.

READ MORE: Royal reporter claims he was asked to hack the phones of celebrities

Prince Harry's lawyers argued the Police Act 1996 allows for private individuals to pay for special policing services, according to the Telegraph UK.

They argued by denying Harry's request in 2021 the Royal and VIP Executive Committee exceeded its powers and acted unreasonably.

Lawyers for the Home Secretary argued: "There is no legal authority for the proposition that the concept of special police service encompasses the use of police officers as private bodyguards for the wealthy."

READ MORE: Unconventional ways to keep warm this winter

Matthew Butt KC, for the Metropolitan Police, explained: "The officers who provide protective security expose themselves to unique risks. One doesn't need too much imagination to work out the sort of risks.

"It cannot be right that officers are expected to expose themselves and present themselves to that level of risk when it is not in the public interest but because a policing body is going to be financially compensated for it."

He is also involved in a privacy trial against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over phone hacking between 1991 and 2011.

Prince Harry recently attended King Charles' coronation on May 6. During trips to the UK the royal has been spotted being flanked by private security guards.