Prince Harry may have to personally cover substantial costs resulting from his unsuccessful legal battle against the Daily Mail publisher. The lawsuit, involving prominent figures like Sir Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, alleged unlawful information gathering by Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), a claim vehemently denied by ANL. After an extensive 11-week trial in London, the court dismissed all claims in a lengthy 436-page judgment.

A recent court hearing revealed a financial gap between the insurance coverage and ANL’s costs, exceeding £34 million. ANL’s legal team argued that the household names, including Sadie Frost, Elizabeth Hurley, David Furnish, and Sir Simon Hughes, should be liable for ANL’s costs on an indemnity basis, which favors ANL in terms of the recoverable amount.

The publisher’s counsel, Antony White KC, accused the claimants of pursuing the legal action as part of a broader agenda to influence government policies, rather than for genuine litigation purposes. He criticized the wide-ranging nature of the claims and the strategic publicity surrounding them.

Meanwhile, the claimants’ representative, Nicholas Bacon KC, contended that awarding ANL costs on an indemnity basis could leave the claimants inadequately covered by their insurance. He highlighted the significant legal expenditure by ANL and emphasized the need for fairness in cost allocation.

Despite the court’s rejection of their claims, Bacon maintained that the group acted in good faith and with honesty throughout the proceedings. The court is expected to make a decision on the cost allocation following the conclusion of the hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin.

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