The Duke of Sussex’s unsuccessful legal fight against the Home Office regarding the termination of his automatic police protection has cost taxpayers more than £500,000, as revealed recently.
Officials spent a total of £514,128 defending the Duke’s two judicial review applications following the downgrade of his security status due to his and the Duchess of Sussex’s departure from royal duties and move to the United States.
The Duke, determined to challenge his recent defeat in court, faces the possibility of escalating legal costs in the near future.
Concerns are mounting over the financial implications of the Duke’s legal actions against the government, with the breakdown of the legal bill showing significant expenditures.
The expenses included over £180,000 for barristers, £320,000 for the government’s legal department providing counsel, and £3,200 for court fees, as detailed in a public records request by the Daily Telegraph.
Additionally, the disclosure of case-related electronic communications, likely including emails between officials and the royal household, incurred a cost exceeding £10,000.
The Duke of Sussex, aged 39, criticized the decision by the Executive Committee for the Protection of Royalty and Public Figures (RAVEC) as unreasonable, claiming it jeopardized the safety of himself and his family.
His legal team argued that he was unfairly singled out and subjected to harsher treatment compared to other high-profile individuals.
The Home Office defended its position by emphasizing the finite nature of public resources and asserting that only public figures serving the state’s interests should receive police protection.
Despite his efforts, a High Court judge rejected the Duke’s case, affirming the need to reassess his security requirements on an individual basis rather than maintaining taxpayer-funded 24/7 police protection.
Consequently, the Duke faces an estimated legal bill of around £1 million following the court ruling.
His previous reluctance to pursue a separate claim due to his wish for financial responsibility over his protection is now overshadowed by the escalating legal fees he must bear.
In addition to his legal battles with the government, the Duke of Sussex is pursuing separate lawsuits against prominent newspapers.
Notably, he is taking legal action against News Group Newspapers, publishers of The Sun and the former News of the World, as well as Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail.
The Duke’s litigation against these media outlets stems from articles published about his security arrangements, with a libel case against the Mail on Sunday resulting in an estimated £750,000 legal bill, which he decided to drop earlier this year.