Prince Harry, Elton John to Pay Daily Mail Publisher $13 Million in Legal Fees After Privacy Invasion Loss

Prince Harry and Elton John, in addition to five other public figures, have been compelled to pay the U.K. tabloid publisher Associated Newspapers Limited a substantial $13 million (£9.54m) in initial legal fees following their unsuccessful privacy invasion lawsuit. The group, which included David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, Doreen Lawrence, and Sir Simon Hughes, was found to have failed in proving their 2022 claims against the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday in July by Justice Matthew Nicklin.

The seven individuals could be required to pay up to $34 million (£25m) in total, according to the BBC, and have until October 2 to file an appeal. They had insurance covering up to $22 million (£16.2m) to cover these costs. The group had accused the newspapers of various intrusive practices, including hacking, tapping, and bugging, for articles published between 1993 and 2011, with a trial lasting 11 weeks and related legal expenses estimated at around $53.5 million (£40m).

ANL expressed their disapproval of the situation as a "devastating critique of an attempt to destroy a newspaper and the reputations of its journalists, editors, and executives" in a statement released on Friday. Prince Harry, along with the other claimants, had previously testified about the "horrible experience" and the ongoing harassment he and his wife faced due to the legal proceedings, which he described as the worst aspect of the ordeal.

The Duke of Sussex's third and final lawsuit against U.K. tabloid publishers came after he received a "full and unequivocal apology" from News Group Newspapers in January following a settlement, and a similar phone hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers was won by him in late 2023.