Prince Harry sparked a fiery debate on GB News, as the Duke of Sussex continues his legal battle against the Home Office.
The royal, who stepped down as a working member of the monarchy in 2020, has appealed against the decision to remove his right to automatic police protection.
In a three day hearing at the High Court, held mostly behind closed doors due to privacy concerns, the Prince is expected to claim he has been treated “unfairly”.
A privacy order has also been issued for the royal’s three day court hearing.
Peter Edwards says he has ‘sympathy’ for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle
GB News
The Duke’s latest court showdown, which has spanned over three years, has been widely criticised by royal experts.
Former Royal Protection Officer Dai Davies told GB News that the ordeal is “yet another Harry storm in a teacup”.
In a discussion with GB News presenter Michelle Dewberry, former Editor of LabourList Peter Edwards admitted he has “sympathy” for Prince Harry.
The pair were joined by Baroness Jacqueline Foster, who stated she was “very disappointed” by his latest legal move.
Edwards told GB News: “I’m not against paying for it in some form because Harry and Meghan, they chose out to opt out of being working royals, but they can’t choose to opt out of the threat or concern against them.
“And we know that for anyone in the public eye, there are a very small number of disturbed individuals who could pose a threat to them. And Harry’s part of the most famous family in the world.
“So I do have a bit of sympathy for him because whatever choices he makes about his working life, it can’t have much of an impact on a threat that might be posed by other people.”
Michelle then argued: “But isn’t that the purpose of private protection? Hire your own personal bodyguards?
“It doesn’t necessarily have to be members of the police, but staff yourself. Surround yourself with personal bodyguards.”
Prince Harry is appealing the Home Office’s decision in a hearing at the High Court in London
PA
Edwards rebutted Michelle’s comments, claiming “I’d imagine that’s very expensive”, to which Michelle fumed “he’s absolutely minted, Peter!”
Baroness Foster shared her view on the security battle, stating: “They spend 99 per cent of their time in California. One thing is for sure, you seem to get more crackpots running around America doing these sorts of things that attacking people etcetera.
“And obviously he has to pay for any protection there. So we’re actually talking about a relatively few times that he may come over here and because obviously we can’t be expected to pay for his security over there.
“But as I said, of course he needs security, but by the same token I think he can pay for it.”