Prince Harry and others ordered to pay initial US$13 million in failed lawsuit

Prince Harry, Elton John ⁠and other high-profile claimants face paying ⁠millions of dollars out of their own pockets to cover the legal costs of the Daily Mail’s publisher after a judge ruled their failed privacy lawsuits were conducted in an unreasonable way.

Judge Matthew Nicklin’s judgment on costs, ‌which was published on Friday, also ordered an interim payment from the claimants of £9.54 million (US$13 million) towards the legal costs of Associated Newspapers.

Last month, Judge Matthew Nicklin comprehensively rejected the case brought by King Charles’ younger son, singer Elton John and five ⁠other figures, rejecting allegations that the Mail titles ‌had engaged in widespread unlawful activities, such as phone hacking.

Friday’s judgment ⁠delivered a damaging blow to Harry and the others by ruling that the outstanding amount ‌should be paid on an “indemnity basis”.

This means that as the losing party ‌the ‌prince and the others must pay towards ‌Associated’s costs without the publisher needing to show ⁠these were reasonable and proportionate.

Explaining his decision, Nicklin was ⁠highly critical of ⁠the way the claimants’ case had been put, including that serious allegations had rested on “speculative and inferential” foundations.