A London High Court judge on Friday ruled that Prince Harry, Elton John, his husband David Furnish and five additional high‑profile individuals must make an initial payment of £9.5 million (about $13 million) toward the legal expenses of Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the Daily Mail.

Background of the case

The group sued the Daily Mail alleging that the tabloid engaged in unlawful information‑gathering practices for stories published between 1997 and 2015. The lawsuit sought damages for privacy violations and related harms.

Court’s decision

The High Court found in favor of the newspaper, concluding that the plaintiffs had not demonstrated that the Daily Mail’s actions were unlawful under the relevant statutes. The judge ordered the plaintiffs to pay an initial sum of £9.5 million by 4 p.m. on August 28. The court noted that this amount is only a portion of the total costs the group will eventually be required to cover.

Implications

While the ruling does not resolve the entire financial liability, it signals a significant setback for the plaintiffs, many of whom are prominent figures in entertainment and public life. The decision may influence how future privacy claims against media organisations are litigated in the United Kingdom.

Next steps

The plaintiffs have the option to appeal the decision, though any appeal would likely extend the legal timeline and increase overall costs. Associated Newspapers Limited will receive the initial payment if the deadline is met, after which further payments will be assessed.

Original reporting: KTVZ (Central Oregon) — read the source article.