Prince Harry, Elton John and five other public figures face a potentially enormous legal bill after London’s High Court dismissed their privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers.
The ruling
The claimants accused the Daily Mail publisher of unlawful information gathering, including alleged phone hacking and deception. Judge Matthew Nicklin dismissed all 97 claims, saying the case lacked sufficient supporting evidence. Associated Newspapers had denied wrongdoing throughout.
The fight over costs
The publisher says its legal costs reached £34.5 million and has sought a substantial interim payment. The claimants’ side described the figures as “eye-watering” and argued that the request was punitive. The amount they must ultimately pay has not yet been finally determined.
What happens next
Permission to appeal is linked to the continuing decision on costs. The defeat is particularly significant for Harry because it may end his long series of legal battles with Britain’s tabloid press.
The judgment does not say unlawful practices never occurred anywhere in the industry; it concludes that these claimants did not prove their specific case against this publisher.
