Prince Harry and Celebrities Face £9.5 Million Bill After High Court Defeat

In a significant legal blow, Prince Harry and six other high-profile figures have been ordered to pay £9.5 million to Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail, following their unsuccessful claims of unlawful information gathering. The ruling from High Court judge Mr Justice Nicklin marks the initial payment the celebrities must make after their allegations were dismissed in a comprehensive judgment earlier this year.

During a lengthy 45-day trial, the group, which included prominent names like Sir Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, accused ANL of engaging in illegal activities such as phone tapping and hiring private investigators to gather private information. However, Justice Nicklin determined that the claims were “speculative and substantially inferential,” and concluded that the claimants had not provided sufficient evidence to support their allegations.

The initial demand of £9.5 million comes after ANL spent approximately £34 million defending itself against the claims, which pertained to 57 articles published between 1997 and 2015. The judge’s ruling highlighted the group’s use of a “high-risk strategy” in their legal pursuit, stating that the extent of their claims was excessive and lacked a solid evidential foundation.

In a subsequent hearing focused on costs, it was revealed that ANL’s expenses had ballooned to over £34.5 million, while the claimants had insurance coverage of only £16 million. ANL sought more than £9.9 million in interim payments, while the celebrity group argued for a lesser amount of approximately £7.9 million. Ultimately, Justice Nicklin mandated that the claimants must pay £9,544,355 by 4 PM on August 28.

The judge also decided that any future costs would be assessed on an indemnity basis, which means there’s no cap on what ANL can claim. He expressed concerns over the claimants' litigation approach, noting that serious allegations were made without adequate evidence, and described the entire case as “unreasonable to a high degree.”

Following the ruling, ANL proclaimed the decision as an “overwhelming victory” for the Daily Mail, emphasizing that the judgment was a testament to the legitimacy of their journalism. They criticized the claimants for advancing serious allegations that lacked credible support, while former MP Sir Simon Hughes expressed disappointment over the decision not to limit recoverable costs and indicated potential considerations for appealing the ruling.

This ruling arrives on the heels of news that Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are relocating back to the UK from their California residence, marking a new chapter in their lives.

Source: www.independent.co.uk