Prince Harry's Stalker Sat Feet Away During Court Appearances
Prince Harry faced an unsettling security situation during his recent court appearances in London, as his known stalker was seated just feet behind him on multiple occasions. The Duke of Sussex, 41, was attending the High Court to continue his privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail when the incidents occurred.
Courtroom Proximity Raises Security Concerns
According to reports from The Telegraph, the stalker was directly behind Prince Harry during two separate court sessions out of the four days he was present. The individual, who is believed to have mental health issues, had the legal right to be in the public building, preventing Harry's security team from taking action.
"There is nothing they could do; they are not the police. It's a public building, and she has a right to be there," an insider told the publication. Representatives for Prince Harry declined to comment on the matter when approached by media outlets.
Pattern of Persistent Following
This was not the first time the stalker has pursued the prince. Previous incidents include:
- Coming within feet of Harry during the WellChild Awards in London last September
- Following him during a visit to the Centre for Blast Injury Studies
- Traveling as far as Nigeria to track Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle
A spokesperson for Harry's private security team told People magazine they "do not comment on security issues" when asked about the recent courtroom incidents.
Ongoing Privacy Lawsuit and Security Battles
The courtroom visits were part of Harry's privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday. The high-profile case includes other claimants such as Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, all alleging unlawful information gathering by the media group.
Meanwhile, Harry continues to face security challenges in the United Kingdom. Last May, he lost his bid to reinstate his government-funded security protection, which was revoked after he and Meghan Markle stepped back from royal duties and moved to the United States in 2020.
"He is obviously always worried about his security situation; it's not ideal," the source added regarding Harry's ongoing concerns about personal safety.
Sundance Festival Appearance Amid Legal Proceedings
While dealing with these security concerns, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle made their first appearance at the Sundance Film Festival in Utah. The couple attended to promote their documentary Cookie Queens, which follows four Girl Scouts as they sell cookies.
The project holds personal significance for Markle, who was a Girl Scout during her childhood in California with her mother serving as troop leader. The documentary represents one of the couple's creative ventures since their departure from royal duties.
Harry has personally appealed to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood regarding his security situation, resulting in a review granted in December that remains in progress. The prince expressed his concerns to People, stating his "worst fears have been confirmed by the whole legal disclosure in this case" regarding his security arrangements.
