Prince Harry and 6 others to learn initial cost of failed Daily Mail case

Prince Harry and six other individuals, including Elton John, are scheduled to discover on Friday the initial costs they must pay to the publisher of Britain's Daily Mail newspaper after their failed privacy invasion case. This news follows their loss in a High Court case last month, which alleged malpractice such as phone hacking by the publisher, Associated Newspapers Ltd. The claimants are aware they are covered by insurance for about half the total legal costs of around 34 million pounds ($46 million).

Apart from an initial payment that could reach 10 million pounds, the claimants will learn how to settle the remaining balance. The publisher had vehemently denied the allegations presented during the 11-week London trial, which concluded on July 7 when Justice Matthew Nicklin concluded there was insufficient evidence to support the claims.

He also indicated a possibility that the reporting was sourced from legitimate sources. Nicklin's decision on the financial implications is due to be made public at 2 p.m. Associated Newspapers has requested an interim payment of over 9.9 million pounds, while the claimants' lawyers advocate for slightly more than 7.9 million pounds.

The other notable plaintiffs in the case were Doreen Lawrence, anti-racism activist and mother of Stephen Lawrence, Elton John's film producer husband David Furnish, actors Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, and politician Simon Hughes. The judgment arrives two days after it was reported that Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle, are planning to return to the U.K. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who had been living in California for over six years, will relocate back to the U.K. later this month to reside in a non-royal residence outside London.