Prince Harry, alongside Sir Elton John, Baroness Lawrence, and four other claimants, has been ordered to pay Associated Newspapers Limited approximately £9.5 million in legal costs. The order stems from the High Court case where their claims against the publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday were dismissed. Mr. Justice Nicklin, who presided over the case, also granted a rare "indemnity order," compelling the claimants to bear the majority of the costs incurred by Associated Newspapers in defending the action.
This indemnity order suggests the judge found the claimants' conduct to be outside the norm and unreasonable to a high degree. Associated Newspapers had reportedly spent £34.5 million defending the case. The claimants' insurance policy is understood to cover only £16.2 million of their expenses, leaving them potentially liable for a substantial portion of the remaining costs, which are estimated to be at least £20 million, even with some lawyers reportedly working on a contingency basis.
The judge's ruling indicated that the case, while lacking evidence of dishonesty from the claimants, was largely speculative in origin. He noted that the claimants' press release used "highly charged language" and referred to "abhorrent criminal activity." The judge further stated that allegations of "criminal or seriously improper conduct" were made against witnesses during testimony, creating a "real risk of reputational harm."
Prince Harry, who had previously described his campaign against the press as "slaying dragons," faces a significant financial setback. The publication notes that while the claimant's legal actions were dismissed, the situation is complicated for Baroness Lawrence, whose son was murdered in 1993. The Daily Mail had a long-standing campaign to bring his killers to justice, and it is hoped that Prince Harry, with his greater financial resources, may offer assistance to her.
Calls for tighter controls on the media have emerged in the UK, with some politicians suggesting a public inquiry into ensuring a "responsible Press" and even bringing the press under state control. However, the article argues that while newspapers must operate within the law, they should also be free to act without fear or favor, a cornerstone of democracy. The author suggests Prince Harry has a choice: to continue a confrontational stance against the press, potentially leading to further unhappiness, or to accept the court's decision, move on, and potentially find more favorable coverage if he adopts a less adversarial approach.