Prince Harry and several other prominent individuals have been ordered by London’s High Court to pay an interim sum of £9.54 million ($17.9 million Cdn) towards the legal expenses of the publisher of the Daily Mail following their defeat in privacy lawsuits. The ruling, issued on Friday, comes after Judge Matthew Nicklin dismissed the claims made by Prince Harry and others, which alleged that the Daily Mail publications had been involved in extensive illegal activities, such as phone hacking.
Among the high-profile figures who were suing Associated Newspapers were singer Elton John and his spouse David Furnish, along with actors Sadie Frost and Elizabeth Hurley. The list of claimants also included former Liberal Democratic MP Simon Hughes and Doreen Lawrence, who turned into an anti-racism advocate following the tragic death of her son, Stephen, in 1993.
Addressing the issue of legal fees, Judge Nicklin criticized the manner in which the claimants presented their case, highlighting that serious accusations were based on speculative and inferential grounds. He stated, “In my judgment, the combined effect of these factors places the case well outside the usual scope. The conduct was unreasonably high.”
A spokesperson for Associated Newspapers hailed the ruling as “another resounding victory for the Mail and its journalism.” The court specified that the outstanding amount must be paid on an “indemnity basis,” indicating that as the unsuccessful party, Prince Harry and the others are obligated to contribute to Associated’s legal costs without requiring the publisher to demonstrate that the expenses were reasonable and proportional.
During a hearing in July, it was revealed that Associated had amassed a legal bill of £34.5 million ($64.7 million Cdn), whereas Prince Harry and the other claimants were covered by an insurance policy limited to £16 million ($30 million Cdn). Nicholas Bacon, the claimants’ lawyer, expressed concern that Associated’s legal fees far exceeded the agreed budget.
The decision on whether the claimants will pursue an appeal has not been finalized. Prince Harry’s spokesperson did not provide any comments following the ruling. Earlier in the summer, the prince labeled the court defeat as a “clear and blatant misrepresentation.”
Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan, recently announced their upcoming relocation to the UK, where they plan to enroll their children in school. After a brief stay in British Columbia and a surprising departure from the UK, they have been residing in southern California for the past six years.
This lawsuit marks the final legal dispute in a series of litigations initiated by Prince Harry against tabloid publishers over alleged illicit practices. Previously, the High Court awarded Harry £140,600 (about $240,430 Cdn) in a case where he was deemed a victim of phone hacking and other unlawful information gathering by journalists at the Mirror Group Newspapers.
In another significant case, the Rupert Murdoch-led News Group in the UK issued a formal apology to the Duke of Sussex for the phone hacking, surveillance, and misuse of private information carried out by journalists and private investigators. However, the court dismissed claims suggesting a secretive arrangement between Murdoch’s newspaper group and Buckingham Palace to prevent royals from filing lawsuits.
Prince Harry made history in 2023 by becoming the first British royal to testify at a trial in 130 years as part of this legal battle.