Prince Harry and Six Others Ordered to Pay Up to £34.5m in Legal Costs
Following a failed privacy case, the seven claimants, including Sir Elton John and Liz Hurley, must pay an initial £9.54m to the publisher of the Daily Mail within a week.
By BBC News
Prince Harry and six other public figures face a potential legal bill of up to £34.5 million after a High Court judge ordered them to pay substantial costs to the publisher of the Daily Mail following their unsuccessful privacy claims. The claimants, which include Sir Elton John and Liz Hurley, are required to pay an initial sum of £9.54 million to Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) by the end of next week.
The ruling, made by Judge Mr Justice Nicklin, described the claimants' presentation of their case as "unreasonable to a high degree" and stated that it was a rare instance where the costs exceeded those initially agreed upon before the trial. On 7 July, the judge dismissed the claims of unlawful information-gathering made by the claimants, which ANL had denied.
The claimants have until 2 October to consider an appeal against the ruling. Alongside Prince Harry, the other claimants include 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.
While the claimants had insurance to cover up to £16.2 million of ANL's costs in the event of a loss, the recent ruling allows the newspaper group to seek recovery of up to £34.5 million in costs incurred during the defence. This could result in the claimants facing a total bill of approximately £18 million.
Judge Nicklin expressed concerns regarding the excessive nature of the claimed costs, stating that it raised real issues about whether all expenses were reasonably incurred. However, he opted not to impose a cap on ANL's recoverable costs, citing that doing so could lead to unfairness.
The judge noted that none of the serious allegations made by the claimants were withdrawn, which he deemed significant. He stated that unresolved serious allegations should not be left hanging over individuals without proper evidential support.
In a statement, ANL described the ruling as a severe critique of the claimants' attempt to undermine the newspaper and its staff. The decision comes shortly after Prince Harry and Meghan announced their return to the UK, with their children set to start school in September.
During the trial, numerous witnesses, including Prince Harry, provided evidence, while current and former ANL journalists denied any illegal activities. Sir Simon Hughes expressed disappointment with the judgment and indicated he would consider whether to appeal.
In a joint statement, Prince Harry and Baroness Lawrence expressed their discontent, stating they sought justice and accountability but received neither, calling the outcome a "complete and obvious whitewash."
The case now enters a complex phase regarding the determination of costs, with ANL having initially sought over £9.9 million as an interim payment ahead of further hearings. The judge's ruling indicates that the costs battle is far from over, with significant scrutiny likely on the claimed expenses.