I see your point, Iluvbertie.
However, is it really that big a financial burden when you take a closer look?
The costs to the taxpayers was 115.000 Aus Dollars as I understand it.
Let's start with the positive coverage of Australia associated with the visit by Harry in Britain, but also other countries that feature the doings of the BRF. (Predominantly Commonwealth countries).
How much would a similar nationwide coverage on TV, papers and magazines cost the Visit Australia (or whatever the Australian tourist board is called) in Britain alone?
(I'm not asking whether it would make a difference, just the costs).
The Australian medias covered Harry's visit big time! They would have sold, pics, clips and articles again mainly to Britain. How much would that have amounted to in income to the Australian medias? More or less than 115.000 you think?
Then there are the, again mainly British, reporters who went to Australia (later on New Zealand) and spend money there while covering Harry. I don't know how many they were or how much they would spend in Australia, but I'd say it wasn't pocket change.
Not to mention the local Australian fans who went to wherever Harry was. They would in many cases have spend money locally on food, drink, gas and what not.
You see where I'm getting? The Australian taxpayers may have paid 115.000 $, but that is likely to have been outweighed by the income generated by Australian businesses, media companies, hotels and so on. Income that in part is returned to the treasury via taxes.