Prince Harry’s quiet court battle has been anything but peaceful.
Last week, when he faced Associated Newspapers Limited in Court 76 of the Royal Courts of Justice, the Duke of Sussex faced a stark reminder of the dangers that lie ahead.
On two occasions, a woman with a known obsession was seen a few meters behind him in the public gallery.
Immediately identified by her private security team, she appears in a registry of identified people.
However, court staff were unable to act. “It’s a public building,” a source said. The telegraph. “She has a right to be there. Obviously, it’s not ideal.”
The woman, who is believed to be suffering from mental health issues, has repeatedly appeared near Harry.
She followed him to Nigeria and breached security at a London hotel last September during the WellChild Awards, entering a restricted area. Two days later, she was seen near the Blast Injury Study Center.
Amid these bewildering encounters, the Prince has also been defending his privacy case with dogged determination, seeking to hold Fleet Street to account for what he describes as decades of reckless tabloid intrusion.
Some speculate that his motive encompasses a mix of justice, revenge and a protective instinct for Meghan and her children.
Neil Basu, former head of the UK’s counter-terrorism unit, described the duke’s situation as anxiety-provoking.
“Repeated confrontations with a stalker are incredibly stressful,” she said. “You never quite know where a fixation on roses or declarations of love, or something much more dangerous, will lead.”
The Home Office has launched a review of Harry’s security arrangements, a change prompted by his high-profile encounters and ongoing legal battles.
Despite losing a bid for state-funded automatic protection, the Duke remains at the top of the threat radar, and his global recognition and recent media attention are likely to increase the risks.
