The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge play football during a visit to the Banganga Water Tank in Mumbai, India,Prince William and Kate Middleton showcased a strikingly different approach from Prince Harry by making a succinct five-word security plea during a trip abroad.
The Duke of Sussex’s bid to overturn the High Court’s rejection of his case against the Home Office—which followed Ravec’s decision to downgrade his protection while in the UK—was unsuccessful in May.
This legal wrangle emerged after Harry and Meghan’s departure from the UK, initially relocating to Canada and subsequently settling in California, following their highly publicised decision to step back as senior members of the Royal Family.
After the court’s determination, a 40-year-old Prince Harry stated he “can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK”.
Nonetheless, Prince Harry’s stance on security seems to differ vastly from that of his brother, Prince William, and sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, as illustrated by an incident during their 2016 India tour.
While visiting New Delhi, the Prince and Princess of Wales expressed their wish to be part of a charity event aiding at-risk children, but notably preferred to do so without their standard security retinue.
Sanjoy Roy, who co-founded the Salaam Baalak Trust—aimed at assisting street children with nourishment, education, and medical care—disclosed this unexpected request to the Daily Mail.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge meet local children from local charities“When William and Catherine came to see this project, [representatives] called saying, ‘They’re happy to come without security,'” Roy revealed. “I tried to dissuade them, telling them, ‘No can do – it’s too dangerous. Just don’t come.’ But Will and Kate insisted, ‘No, we really want to.'”
Their visit was a stark contrast to that of other high-profile figures. Roy reminisced about a frenzied visit from Tony and Cherie Blair, which turned into a media circus.
“It was just a circus,” he lamented to the Daily Mail. “The press showed up. It was not nice.”
However, William and Kate’s presence was notably different. “They were so wonderfully respectful,” Roy praised.
Prince William and Princess Kate(Image: (Image: GETTY))“Everything was quiet, calm, and meaningful. No drama – just genuine concern.”
The royal couple spent time with children at the railway station shelter, engaging with those who had endured trafficking, violence, and gang exploitation.
In summarising last month’s court ruling, Judge Sir Geoffrey Vos described Ravec’s decision as “understandable and perhaps predictable”.
Reacting to the verdict, the Duke conveyed to BBC News that it is “impossible” for him to safely bring his family to the UK after his legal challenge regarding security arrangements was unsuccessful.
Prince Harry(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)He shared with the broadcaster: “I can’t see a world in which I would be bringing my wife and children back to the UK at this point, and the things that they’re going to miss are, well, everything, you know.
“I love my country. I always have done, despite what some people in that country have done.
“So you know? I miss the UK. I miss parts of the UK. Of course I do. And I think that it’s really quite sad that I won’t be able to show my children my homeland.”
After the unsuccessful legal battle, a representative from Buckingham Palace commented: “All of these issues have been examined repeatedly and meticulously by the courts, with the same conclusion reached on each occasion.”