In a judgment issued on Friday, Justice Matthew Nicklin ordered Prince Harry and six other claimants, including Elton John, to pay an initial £9.5 million (about $13 million) to Associated Newspapers Ltd., the publisher of the Daily Mail. The payment must be made by August 28.

Background of the case

The claimants had sued the newspaper for an alleged invasion of privacy, alleging illegal phone‑hacking and other misconduct by the publisher. The High Court found the claims speculative and unsupported, describing the conduct as “unreasonable to a high degree.”

Potential further costs

The Daily Mail reported that it incurred more than £34 million in legal expenses during the trial. If the court later approves a claim for the remaining costs, the claimants could be liable for an additional roughly £25 million. The claimants had taken out insurance covering about half of the total cost.

Reactions

Associated Newspapers called the judgment a “devastating critique of an attempt to destroy a newspaper and the reputations of its journalists, editors and executives.” The publisher said the case raised “disturbing questions about the conduct of elements of the legal profession.”

David Bailey‑Vella, chairman of the Association of Costs Lawyers, said the ruling could not have been worse for the claimants. Former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes expressed disappointment that the recoverable costs were not limited.

Related developments

The decision comes days after news that Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle will return to the United Kingdom later this month, moving from their California residence to a non‑royal home outside London.

Harry’s earlier lawsuits against other UK tabloids resulted in a 2023 judgment against the Daily Mirror for phone‑hacking and a 2022 settlement with The Sun, which apologized for past intrusions.

The claimants have until October 2 to decide whether to appeal the decision.

Original reporting: Texarkana Gazette — read the source article.