Law & Justice
Prince Harry and others ordered to pay Daily Mail £9.5m
The High Court in London has ordered Prince Harry and six other claimants to make an initial payment of £9,544,355 to the publisher of the Daily Mail after they lost a privacy case.
A published summary of Friday's costs decision said the payment to Associated Newspapers Limited must be made by 4:00 pm London time on August 28.
The order follows a July 7 ruling by Judge Matthew Nicklin, who found that the claimants had failed to prove their allegations of unlawful information gathering and privacy invasion after an 11-week trial.
The claimants, including Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, had accused the Mail's publisher of bugging cars and homes, listening to calls and other privacy breaches. Associated Newspapers denied all the allegations.
Associated Newspapers said its total costs defending the case had reached about £34.5 million by July 9. Nicklin said that figure appeared excessive and largely unexplained, and raised concerns about whether all the costs claimed had been reasonably incurred.
The court has not decided how much of those costs the claimants must ultimately pay. If the amount is not agreed, a costs judge will determine it separately.
Nicklin rejected the claimants' request for costs to be assessed on a standard basis and accepted the publisher's argument for an indemnity basis. The court summary said the litigation had been pursued in a way that took it “well outside the norm”.
The court also set a timetable for the claimants to request permission to appeal the July 7 decision. Any request must be filed by October 2.
After last month's ruling, Harry and campaigner Doreen Lawrence called the decision “a complete and obvious whitewash” in a joint statement. An Associated Newspapers spokesperson called Friday's decision “another overwhelming victory for the Mail and its journalism”.
Simon Hughes, a former MP and another of the seven claimants, said he was disappointed and surprised that Associated Newspapers' recoverable costs had not been limited by the judge.
Update
Associated Newspapers Limited called Friday's decision “another overwhelming victory” for the Mail and its journalism.
Simon Hughes, one of the seven claimants, said he was disappointed and surprised that the judge had not limited the publisher's recoverable costs.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 15:00:58 UTC.
Update
The claimants include Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost.
Associated Newspapers said its total defence costs had reached about £34.5 million by July 9.
Judge Matthew Nicklin described the claimed costs as appearing excessive and raising concerns about whether all were reasonably incurred.
The court has not determined the final recoverable costs, which will go to a costs judge if not agreed.
The court rejected the claimants' request for standard-basis costs and favoured an indemnity basis.
The claimants have until October 2 to request permission to appeal the July 7 decision.
Source note: AFP news report published on 21 August 2026 at 14:12:41 UTC.
Uncertainty notes
The final amount of costs recoverable from the claimants has not been decided.
It is not yet clear whether the claimants will seek or obtain permission to appeal the July 7 ruling.
Source
AFP news report published on .