Duke of Sussex loses High Court privacy battle with Daily Mail publisher

Prince Harry has suffered a significant legal defeat in his long-running battle with parts of the British press. A High Court judge dismissed all claims of unlawful information gathering brought by Harry and six other high-profile individuals against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.

“

I’ve been told that slaying dragons will get you burned,” was his defiant response when he claimed victory against Mirror Group Newspapers in December 2023 over historic allegations of unlawful information gathering, adding it was a “worthwhile price to pay”.

The ruling, delivered remotely by Mr Justice Nicklin, found that the claimants had not proven their allegations. The judge noted that suspicion was not proof and that while Harry wished the court to understand the personal impact of the matters, his evidence at times strayed into argument. Nicklin stated that Harry, like the other claimants, had limited evidence on the contentious issues.

“

Suspicion was not proof

This comprehensive loss leaves the Duke of Sussex, fifth in line to the throne, facing a substantial legal bill, potentially exceeding £50 million, even with insurance. The judgment comes at an unfortunate time, coinciding with a rare visit to the UK by the Duke, who was in London to mark the one-year countdown to his Invictus Games. His aides suggested the ruling's timing might have contributed to King Charles withdrawing an offer of accommodation at Buckingham Palace for the night.

“

it was apparent that he wished the court to understand the personal impact of the matters in issue

Harry has previously described his legal fights with the British media as a

“

has limited evidence to give on the contentious matters in dispute