According to his legal spokesperson, Prince Harry is not seeking preferential treatment, but rather a fair and lawful application of Ravec's own rules, ensuring that he is treated on par with others. A Freedom of Information request revealed that as of October 2023, the government's legal costs in this case had already exceeded £400,000. By December, the government's legal department had spent £265,437, with counsel fees amounting to £137,864. Consequently, Prince Harry will now have to reimburse the taxpayers with at least £500,000 following his unsuccessful challenge. Additionally, his own legal expenses are expected to be similar, if not more, totaling around £1 million.
The significant cost incurred by the public is likely to raise questions about the merits of a member of the royal family initiating legal action against the government. In February 2020, Ravec declared that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were no longer entitled to the "same degree" of personal security during their visits to Britain. This decision came shortly after the couple stepped down as working members of the royal family.
Prince Harry sought a judicial review, prompting the committee to adopt a "bespoke" approach that involved evaluating each visit independently. However, this approach has resulted in the duke being denied police protection during subsequent returns to the UK.