Prince Harry, Elton John Ordered to Pay Millions in Failed Lawsuit

Prince Harry, Elton John, and five other claimants have been ordered to pay an initial 9.5 million pounds ($13 million) to Associated Newspapers Ltd, publisher of the Daily Mail, following their failed invasion of privacy case.

Justice Matthew Nicklin ruled on Friday that the payment must be made by August 28. The payment is at the upper end of expectations and marks a vindication for the Daily Mail journalists. The claimants could face an additional liability of around 25 million pounds in legal costs if the publisher seeks to recover the remaining amount and receives legal approval.

Associated Newspapers stated it spent over 34 million pounds in costs during the case. The high-profile claimants lost their High Court case in London last month, where they accused Associated Newspapers of alleged wrongdoing, including unlawful phone hacking. Other claimants include anti-racism campaigner Doreen Lawrence, whose son Stephen was murdered in 1993; Elton John's husband and film producer David Furnish; actors Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley; and politician Simon Hughes.

Lawrence's legal costs are expected to be covered by the other claimants. Justice Nicklin criticized the claims as speculative and substantially inferential, adding they lacked a proper evidential foundation. He also noted several features influenced his decision, including the claimants' failure to voluntarily withdraw serious allegations that could no longer be supported. Justice Nicklin stated the conduct was unreasonable to a high degree.

The judge ruled that Associated Newspapers' costs should be determined on an indemnity basis, a move the publisher had pushed for. Lawyers for the claimants had urged the interim payment be set at around 7.9 million pounds (€9.2 million), while Associated Newspapers had asked for approximately 9.9 million pounds (€11.6 million). The claimants reportedly had insurance covering roughly half the initial budget estimates provided by Associated Newspapers' lawyers. The High Court heard the charges during an 11-week trial earlier this year, which concluded last month with the judge dismissing all cases.