Harry, Elton John Ordered To Pay £9.5m After Losing Privacy Case

Harry, Elton John Ordered to Pay £9.5m After Losing Privacy Case

Prince Harry, Elton John and five other claimants have been ordered to make an initial payment of £9.5 million to the publisher of the Daily Mail following their defeat in a landmark privacy case. The High Court previously rejected their claims against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, which the claimants had accused of unlawful information-gathering and breaches of privacy. The group, which included Harry and Elton John, alleged that journalists and private investigators working for the publisher had unlawfully obtained private information over several years. However, the court ruled against the claimants, prompting the latest order concerning legal costs. The £9.5 million payment represents an initial contribution toward the publisher’s legal costs, rather than necessarily the final amount that could be awarded. The dispute over the full costs of the lengthy legal proceedings is expected to continue. The case has attracted significant attention because of Prince Harry’s ongoing legal battles with sections of the British press. The Duke of Sussex has repeatedly accused tabloid newspapers of intrusive and unlawful reporting practices. The latest ruling represents a significant setback for Harry and the other claimants, while providing a major legal victory for Associated Newspapers.