Prince Harry has expressed his belief that his police protection was withdrawn in an attempt to trap him, and stop him departing the UK with his wife Meghan Markle in 2020.

Harry’s taxpayer-funded security was withdrawn as part of arrangements following his decision to exit royal life five years ago, and make a new life with his wife in the US.

Harry previously took the unprecedented step of suing the UK government over this decision, but it was upheld. This week has seen him back in a London courtroom to hear his lawyers appealing that decision.

It was recorded in court that Harry viewed the decision as a means of trying to force the couple to stay within the UK, rather than coming and going from their new home in the US.

And he told The Telegraph newspaper that his “worst fears had been confirmed” by evidence he’d heard in court, many details of which have not been made public due to security concerns.

He added that he was “exhausted and overwhelmed” by the legal process that has gone on now for several years.

This week’s appeal is the latest legal move by Harry, whose trips from his home in California to the UK have frequently involved court dates – whether over his security arrangements or various lawsuits against British newspapers. On leaving court this week, Harry said: “This one always mattered the most.”

Harry’s decision to sue the UK government is reported to be at the heart of the rift with his father, King Charles. The pair did not meet up in London this week – Charles was only in the city briefly to attend an appointment for his continuing cancer treatment, before travelling to Italy for an official visit, coinciding with the 20^th anniversary of his wedding to Queen Camilla.