Prince Harry is set to learn how much he might have to pay towards the Daily Mail's legal costs after losing a high-profile privacy lawsuit in London's High Court. The court is seeking an interim payment of £10 million from Harry and the other claimants, who had offered £8 million, with Associated's total legal bill estimated at £34.5 million ($45.8 million). A judge will rule on Friday that could also award the Daily Mail costs on an "indemnity basis", meaning Harry and the others would have to pay without proof of reasonable costs. The ruling comes after Prince Harry's lawsuit was comprehensively rejected by a judge in July, who said suspicion alone was not enough to prove unlawful activity.
Written by the local model on 2026-08-21,
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same event (that is the story summary below).
Story summary
On Friday, Prince Harry, 41, will learn how much he might have to pay towards the legal costs of the Daily Mail publisher after a high-profile privacy lawsuit was rejected by judge Matthew Nicklin at London's High Court. The court ruling, which was described as a "complete and obvious whitewash" by Harry, comprehensively rejected allegations that the Mail titles had engaged in unlawful activities such as phone hacking. Associated, the publisher of the Daily Mail, claims it is an overwhelming victory for its newspaper and journalists, and for a free press generally. The ruling also determines whether Harry and the others will pay the outstanding amount on an "indemnity basis", which would mean they must pay towards Associated's costs without proof that these costs were reasonable and proportionate.
Written for “Prince Harry vs Daily Mail” on 2026-08-31,
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Leaning score withheld for article 1873: no verified evidence · logged 2026-08-28
Prince Harry to learn how much failed Daily Mail lawsuit will cost
LONDON, Aug 21 -
asserted
lawsuit → learn → much
Days after it was revealed he will return to Britain, Prince Harry will learn on Friday how many millions of pounds he might have to pay towards the legal costs of the Daily Mail publisher after losing a high-profile privacy lawsuit.
uncertain
he → reveal → lawsuit
Last month, judge Matthew Nicklin at London's High Court comprehensively rejected the case brought by King Charles' younger son alongside singer Elton John and five other British figures, rejecting allegations that the Mail titles had engaged in widespread unlawful activities, such as phone hacking.
asserted
titles → reject → hacking
Associated said it was an overwhelming victory for its newspaper and journalists, and "for a free press generally", while the prince, 41, described the ruling as a "complete and obvious whitewash".
asserted
prince → say → whitewash
On Friday, Nicklin will rule on how much the claimants should pay on an interim basis towards the Mail's legal costs, and, more significantly, whether Harry and the others should be paying the outstanding amount on an "indemnity basis".
If he decides to do this, it will mean that as the losing party the prince and the others must pay towards Associated's costs without the publisher needing to show these were reasonable and proportionate.
asserted
these → rule → costs
Nicklin will make a written judgment, so neither Harry nor any of the other parties will be present.
asserted
Harry → make → parties
INTERIM PAYMENT SOUGHT
The court was told at a hearing in July that Associated had incurred a legal bill of £34.5 million ($45.8 million), while Harry and other claimants only had an insurance policy which covered £16 million.
The Mail's publisher is seeking an interim payment of £10 million while Harry and the six others have offered £8 million.
asserted
Harry → seek → million
The court ruling comes after the shock news that Harry, his wife Meghan and their two children would be relocating to Britain this month from their home in California.
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Harry → come → California
The couple, who stepped down from official duties in 2020 when they moved to the U.S., will not resume any royal roles nor receive any public money.
asserted
they → step → money
COSTS HEARING
At last month's hearing about costs, Associated's lawyer Antony White argued the claimants had made wide-ranging and serious "egregious" allegations without supporting evidence which had added to their costs.
asserted
which → hear → costs
He also said Harry's statement following the ruling was an abuse of his position and celebrity status.
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statement → say → position
Nicholas Bacon, the lawyer for the claimants, said in their submissions that Associated's £34.5 million legal bill was "eye-watering", far exceeding an agreed budget.
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bill → say → budget
He said it had been reported that Associated wanted to teach the claimants a lesson, and that it would be unjust to award indemnity costs.
asserted
it → say → costs
In rejecting Harry and the others' lawsuits following an 11-week trial, Nicklin had said the claimants had needed to prove that information published about them had been obtained unlawfully, but they had failed to do so, and that suspicion alone was not enough.
asserted
suspicion → reject → them
No decision has yet been made on whether the claimants will appeal.
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claimants → make → ?
