Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, alongside other notable figures including Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, could face legal expenses reaching millions of pounds following their unsuccessful privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). The publisher of the Daily Mail successfully saw all claims of unlawful information gathering dismissed by Mr Justice Nicklin after an 11-week trial earlier this month.
A two-day hearing is underway at the High Court to determine the final distribution of legal costs. Representatives for the Duke and his co-claimants described the publisher’s legal fees, which stood at approximately £34.5 million as of July 9, as excessive. Counsel for the claimants, Nicholas Bacon KC, noted that while the group secured insurance for £16.2 million, it appears insufficient to cover the total financial exposure. He further alleged that ANL had spent significantly more than previously disclosed.
Associated Newspapers Limited is pushing for the claimants to cover the full amount of their legal fees on an indemnity basis, citing unreasonable conduct during the proceedings. Lawyers for ANL stated that the claimants made serious allegations of criminal behavior and dishonesty without maintaining the necessary disciplined approach, despite warnings from the court. Conversely, legal counsel for the claimants maintained that their clients acted with integrity and in good faith, arguing that forcing them to cover the full excess costs would be unjust and impose a severe personal burden.
