PRINCE Harry and his high-profile pals are facing a first court bill of £9.5million after losing their failed hacking case with the Daily Mail’s publisher.
The Duke of Sussex, 41, was one of seven complainants – including Sir Elton John and actress Liz Hurley – who lost the battle with Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
Prince Harry faces a huge court bill over his failed hacking case Credit: Reuters
It comes ahead of his return to the UK with Meghan Markle Credit: Splash
The group, which also includes campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, claimed journalists hired private investigators to put listening devices in cars, blag private records and tap into private phone conversations.
ANL strongly denied the allegations and argued the cases had been brought too late.
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Harry and the other claimants have been saddled with an initial court bill for £9.5m – with more set to come.
Lawyers for the publisher previously told a costs hearing that Harry’s team “abused their celebrity status” to pursue a case “well outside the law” and that their conduct had been “outrageous” and “unreasonable”.
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The court heard the six famous names each took out insurance policies worth £2.7million — a total of £16.2million — before the 11-week trial.
But Associated is trying to claw back £34.5million — leaving an £18million shortfall.
Harry and his fellow claimants last month lost their battle after their allegations were dismissed by Judge Mr Justice Nicklin.
The judge said the claimants had failed to prove their “serious” allegations of unlawful information gathering.
High-profile claimants seeking damages included Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish Credit: PA
Actress Liz Hurley, pictured at court, claimed her landline was bugged Credit: Simon Jones
In a huge victory for Press freedom, Mr Justice Nicklin rejected every single one of the 97 allegations made by the Duke and his pals.
Harry later slammed the judgement as “a complete and obvious whitewash” in a statement following with Baroness Doreen Lawrence.
Today’s judgment comes after The Jattvibe revealed how Harry and wife Meghan Markle will be returning to the UK – six years after Megxit.
Both seven-year-old Archie and Lilibet, five, are set to go to school in the UK in September.
Prince William and Princess Kate were today pictured arriving at Balmoral where a secret summit is taking place with the royal family over Harry and Meghan’s shock return.
It echoes the Sandringham Summit in 2020 when the Sussexes first announced they wanted to leave.
The royals have gathered for a summit over Harry and Meghan’s return Credit: AFP
William and Kate were among those heading to Balmoral Credit: Reuters
During around two hours of cross-examination in January, Harry said he could not complain about some of the 14 articles in his case at the time “because of the institution I was in”.
He also said in his written evidence that “knowingly false” information was added to stories to “put me off the scent”, to conceal unlawful methods, including voicemail interception.
The duke, who flew into the UK from his home in Montecito, California, to give evidence, also grew tearful as he said the court battle had been a “horrible experience” for his family.
As part of its defence, ANL said Daily Mail and Mail on Jattvibeday journalists provide a “compelling account of a pattern of legitimate sourcing of articles”.
This includes friends and “leaky” social circles, press officers and spokespersons, as well as previous reporting, freelance journalists and stories from other newspapers and news agencies.
Associated Newspapers later hailed the judgment as “an overwhelming victory” and “a magnificent vindication of the Daily Mail’s journalism”.
Editor-in-Chief Paul Dacre also said the “trumped-up” case was a “sinister bid” to impose statutory regulations on the Press.
