Prince Harry’s legal team has been instructed to limit spending in his upcoming lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The cost cap for Harry’s case is set at $5.1 million, while Associated Newspapers’ costs are limited to $5.6 million. This decision follows a pre-trial hearing where the publisher initially requested a budget of $24.7 million for the 45-day trial, while the claimants sought approximately $23.4 million.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(632×316:634×318)/prince-harry-arriving-court-060723-1-be58a33bcf3d40b7bb9d016601d8fd36.jpg)
The trial, scheduled for 2026, represents the final legal action in a series of lawsuits filed by Prince Harry against British newspapers. He is joined by prominent figures like Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, Simon Hughes, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence, all alleging illegal information gathering by Associated Newspapers. These allegations have been vehemently denied by Associated Newspapers, who have dismissed them as “preposterous smears.”
This cost restriction comes just days after Prince Harry settled a separate claim against Rupert Murdoch’s The Sun, receiving a public apology and damages. The judges overseeing the Daily Mail case, Mr. Justice Nicklin and Judge David Cook, deemed the initial proposed costs “manifestly excessive,” citing the extensive experience of the legal teams involved in similar litigation.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/prince-harry-court-060623-3-a5a757adb68d45a588c935611912ff1d.jpg)
Prince Harry’s legal pursuits began in October 2019, marking a significant departure from the Royal Family’s traditional approach to media disputes. This legal offensive coincided with his and Meghan Markle’s decision to step back from royal duties in early 2020 and relocate to California. Harry has acknowledged that these legal battles have strained his relationship with the Royal Family, calling them a “central piece” of the rift.
The recent settlement with The Sun, which included a substantial financial payout and a public apology, was hailed as a “monumental victory” by Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne. Sherborne emphasized the vindication this represented for numerous other claimants who had previously settled without uncovering the truth. He further highlighted News UK’s admission of wrongdoing against both Prince Harry and former Labour MP Tom Watson.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(642×368:644×370)/david-sherborne-prince-harry-court-case-012225-1-be942ae31d4d4c74aa53525b008edd45.jpg)
Charles Spencer, Prince Harry’s uncle, publicly commended his nephew’s courage and persistence in holding the media accountable. He praised Harry’s “enormous amount of guts” and “incredible tenacity” in pursuing these legal battles. Spencer expressed his belief that Princess Diana would be “rightly proud” of her son’s actions.
