Prince Harry’s lawyer has warned his “life is at stake” after changes to his security following his decision to quit royal duties.

The claim by lawyer Shaheed Fatima came as the prince returned to London’s Royal Courts of Justice for the final day of his two-day appeal about changes to his protection in Britain.

Harry, the younger son of the King, is trying to overturn a 2020 decision by the Home Office – the ministry responsible for policing in Britain. It has ruled he will not automatically receive personal police security while in his home country.

“One must not forget the human dimension to this case: There is a person sitting behind me whose safety, whose security and whose life is at stake,” Fatima told the court on Wednesday as Harry watched on.

She had said in court filings made public on Tuesday that al Qaeda had recently called for Harry to be murdered and that he and his wife Meghan Markle had been involved in “a dangerous car pursuit with paparazzi in New York City” in 2023.

At one point in Wednesday’s hearing, Harry was rushed from court as an apparent fan stood up and yelled: “I support you Prince Harry.”.

The prince’s security team quickly got between him and the woman ushering him out of the courtroom ahead of her.

“If you’re members of the press, you’re the reason he’s no longer in England,” she said.

Prince Harry stepped back from his royal duties in 2020. He lives in California with his American wife Meghan and their two children.

His challenge was rejected last year, with the High Court ruling the decision was lawful. He was granted permission to appeal.

Harry, 40, regularly conferred with his legal team on Wednesday, at times writing on sticky notes and shaking his head, as the government’s lawyers argued the “bespoke” approach to his security was the right decision.

“The basis for the decision-making and the bespoke approach being adopted was that it had positive advantages from a security assessment point of view,” James Eadie, representing the Home Office, said.

He said Harry’s decision to quit as a working royal brought a “unique set of circumstances”.

“There is nothing about the appellant’s announcement in January 2020 that he was to step back from his role in the royal family and spend most of his time abroad that was usual,” he said.

“That is for the obvious reason that it is highly unlikely that two cases will ever in truth be the same, when judged against the broad guiding principles that apply.”

After part of Wednesday’s hearing concerning specific security arrangements was heard in private, Fatima said the case was incredibly important to the Duke of Sussex.

“His presence here and throughout this appeal is a potent illustration, were one needed, of how much this appeal means to him and his family,” she said.

While Harry had been told he was getting “a special bespoke process … he knows and has experienced a process that is manifestly inferior in every respect”, Fatima said.

“The appellant does not accept that ‘bespoke’ means ‘better’. In fact, in his submission, it means that he has been singled out for different, unjustified and inferior treatment,” she said.

The judges have reserved their decision in the case, indicating it is likely to be weeks away.

-with AAP