In a recent revelation, it has come to light that taxpayers have footed a staggering bill of more than £500,000 in the Duke of Sussex’s legal fight against the Home Office.

This expenditure stems from his unsuccessful attempts to contest the withdrawal of his automatic police protection.

The figure disclosed yesterday stands at £514,128, a hefty sum spent on defending the Duke’s two judicial review applications after his security status was downgraded.

The reduction in security was a direct consequence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping back from their royal duties and relocating to the United States.

Despite this setback, the Duke remains determined to challenge the latest court ruling, which found that he could not prove the judgment was either unjust or illegal.

This determination raises concerns about the escalating legal fees, which could potentially increase as he pursues further legal action.

Delving into the breakdown of costs, the legal bill reveals significant expenditures.

More than £180,000 was allocated for barristers, while approximately £320,000 went to the government’s legal department for advice.

Additionally, court fees amounted to around £3,200.

Interestingly, the release of electronic data related to the case, likely including correspondence between government officials and the royal household, cost over £10,000.

The Duke of Sussex, now 39, argues that the decision made by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVC) was unreasonable, jeopardizing his and his family’s safety.

His legal team insists that he has been unfairly singled out and treated less favorably than other high-profile individuals who receive police protection.

On the government’s side, the Home Office maintains that public resources are limited and that police protection should only be afforded to those acting in the public interest due to their official roles.

A High Court judge upheld this perspective, deciding that the Duke’s security needs would be assessed individually rather than automatically reinstating his taxpayer-funded round-the-clock protection.

As a result of the court’s decision, the Duke now faces an estimated legal bill nearing £1 million.

This financial burden is particularly significant considering his previous stance on wanting to take personal responsibility for his security arrangements, which had previously deterred him from pursuing separate claims.

The Duke is also embroiled in separate legal battles against various media outlets.

He has initiated lawsuits against both The Sun and the former News of the World, as well as the Daily Mail, which is published by Associated Newspapers.