Prince Harry has told a court and and wife Meghan Markle “felt forced” to leave Britain when they stepped back as senior royals.

The Duke of Sussex’s stunning statement on Thursday (British time) came as part of a three-day hearing in a London court.

His lawyers read out the the statement in which Harry said he “felt forced” to vacate his role in the royal family and leave Britain nearly four years ago because of security concerns for his family.

“It was with great sadness to both of us that my wife and I felt forced to step back from this role and leave the country in 2020,” he said.

“The UK is my home. The UK is central to the heritage of my children and a place I want them to feel at home as much as where they live at the moment in the United States. That cannot happen if there is no possibility to keep them safe when they are on UK soil.

“I can’t put my wife in danger like that, and given my experiences in life, I’m reluctant to unnecessarily put myself in harm’s way, too.”

Harry’s legal team is arguing against a February 2020 decision by Britain’s Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) that stripped the Sussexes of their automatic right to police security.

Britain’s Home Office argues that Prince Harry instead has “bespoke” arrangements for security for him and his family when they are in the county.

The prince’s lawyers argue the RAVEC decision was “irrational” and showed that he was treated “less favourably” than other people in similar positions.

The judge in the case has reserved his decision. A judgment is expected in coming weeks.

“Of course, it should go without saying that he wants to come back: to see family and friends and to continue to support the charities that are so close to his heart,” Harry’s lawyer Shaheed Fatima said in 2022.

“Most of all, this is, and always will be, his home.”

Harry, who is the younger son of the King and remains fifth in line to the throne, was most recently in Britain for the King’s coronation. He and the Duchess of Sussex have brought their young children – Archie, four, and Lilibet, two – back to Britain only once since their shock exit as senior royals in 2020.

His statement to the court appears to contradict what he and Meghan said as they announced their departure, which was quickly dubbed Megxit.

“After many months of reflection and internal discussions, we have chosen to make a transition this year in starting to carve out a progressive new role within this institution,” the couple wrote on their now abandoned Instagram.

“We now plan to balance our time between the United Kingdom and North America, continuing to honour our duty to The Queen, the Commonwealth, and our patronages.”

Thursday’s statement came just hours after six former London police officers were suspended prison sentences for sharing offensive and racist messages on WhatsApp, including references to Meghan and other members of the royal family.

In a statement after the sentencing hearing Commander James Harman, who leads the Metropolitan Police’s Anti-Corruption and Abuse Command, said “the racist and discriminatory content of these messages is absolutely appalling”.

“Given the defendants once served as police officers, we recognise that this case may further damage confidence in policing,” Harman said.

The six officers, all of whom have retired, were charged after an investigation by the BBC’s Newsnight program, which found the men sent the messages between August 2018 and September 2022, a period when they had all left the police.

-AAP