A High Court judge has ordered Prince Harry and six other claimants to pay an exceptional legal bill following the dismissal of their privacy case against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail. The claimants are also required to make an initial payment of £9.54m by the following Friday. The group also includes Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, former Liberal Democrat deputy leader Sir Simon Hughes, racial justice campaigner Baroness Lawrence, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley.
On 7 July, the judge dismissed claims of unlawful information-gathering, which the publisher denied. The judge criticized how the claimants presented their case as “unreasonable to a high degree,” noting that not a single serious allegation was voluntarily withdrawn during proceedings. While the judge acknowledged that a costs claim exceeding £34 million appeared excessive on its face, he declined to impose a ceiling, stating such an approach would be too broad-brushed and potentially arbitrary.
The claimants had insurance covering up to £16.2m of the publisher’s costs. However, the ruling means Associated Newspapers could potentially recover up to £34.5m in total defense spending, leaving the defendants facing a potential additional bill of approximately £18m. The claimants have until 2 October to attempt launching an appeal. In response to the decision, Prince Harry and Baroness Lawrence released a joint statement characterizing the outcome as a “complete and obvious whitewash.”
Legal experts noted that while the ruling represents a significant victory for the publisher, the judge’s characterization of the £34.5m costs projection as exceptionally high and concerning could prove relevant during subsequent detailed cost recovery proceedings. Sir Simon Hughes indicated he would take time to consider whether to pursue appeals against the substantive and costs judgments.
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