Prince Harry has lost his first attempt to appeal against the dismissal of his legal challenge over a decision to remove his police protection when he is in Britain, a court spokesperson says.

Harry, the King’s younger son, brought the action at London’s High Court after Britain’s Home Office – the ministry responsible for policing – decided in February 2020 that he would not automatically receive personal police security while in the country.

Harry, along with other senior royals, had received full publicly-funded security protection provided by the state before he stepped back from his royal duties and moved to California with his US wife Meghan Markle in March 2020.

The Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures, known as RAVEC, had decided the Duke of Sussex would not receive the same level of protection.

In February, the High Court ruled the decision was lawful and dismissed Harry’s case.

The court refused to the duke permission to appeal on April 8, a court spokesperson said on Monday, adding that Harry could apply directly to the Court of Appeal.

“The reality of the matter is that the claimant considers he should receive a different approach to his protection whilst in the UK than RAVEC decided he should, based in part on his comparison of his own position with that of others,” Judge Peter Lane said.

“RAVEC, as an expert body, concluded otherwise. It was entitled to do so.”

Harry was also ordered to pay 90 per cent of the Home Office’s “reasonable costs” in defending the case, although the amount of the government’s costs were not stated.

Harry and Meghan live in California with their two young children, after officially stepping back as working royals in 2020. He was last in Britain in January, making a brief transatlantic dash after the King was diagnosed with cancer.

The prince’s next visit to his home country is widely expected to be on May 8, for a service for his Invictus Games project at London’s St Paul’s Cathedral.

His visit has not been officially confirmed, but he is reportedly listed as a guest in the official running of the service. It is not yet known if the duchess or children Archie and Lilibet will join Harry.

The case against the government is one of several high-profile legal battles the prince has waged in recent years. Others involve lawsuits against the British media.

-with AAP