A London nightclub owner has complained that a day after letting Harry use the fire exit at his 151 club in King’s Road to avoid photographers, owner Giorgio Burlo was visited by a health and safety officer and ordered to resurface the back yard at a cost of £1,200, in case the third-in-line to the throne (for now) tripped and hurt himself.

Mr Burlo told the Evening Standard: “He [the officer] turned up the very next day after it was reported Harry had left by the back exit. I assume they saw a report of it and just came round. Apparently there were concerns Prince Harry might trip up and hurt himself next time. I couldn’t believe it, not least because it was not long afterwards Harry was sent to Afghanistan where, of course, there was a bit more chance of him really getting hurt. I ended up having to pay for the repairs. I don’t mind but I haven’t seen him since.”

Kensington & Chelsea council told the Standard its health and safety officials visited the club for routine checks.