Prince Harry and fellow claimants attempted to settle their £50 million privacy case against Associated Newspapers weeks before the trial began, according to new reports. The Duke of Sussex and six other individuals accused the publisher of The Daily Mail of unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking and blagging, across 55 stories. However, on Tuesday, Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed the claims, ruling there was insufficient strong evidence. The claimants now face substantial legal costs.
Settlement Attempts Revealed
According to The Telegraph, Prince Harry's legal team used intermediaries to approach Associated Newspapers with a proposed deal before the trial. Veteran journalist Michael Gillard reported in his blog that the claimants tried to avoid the costly trial in December 2024. They enlisted James Hanning, a former deputy editor of The Independent on Sunday, and Stephen Wright, a former associate editor of the Daily Mail, to facilitate discussions. Hanning told Gillard: "I acted as a backchannel."
Discussions became "particularly heated" on Christmas Eve, but Associated Newspapers declined to settle. Another informal attempt just before the trial began in January also failed. The publisher reportedly wanted to clear its name rather than settle privately.
Legal Consequences
The seven claimants, including Prince Harry, lost the case and are jointly liable for the legal costs incurred by Associated Newspapers. The full amount has not been disclosed. The trial, which started in January, saw the duke attend some days. The verdict surprised many, but the settlement attempts suggest the claimants may have anticipated the outcome.
Associated Newspapers maintained that the stories were obtained through lawful means. The judge's decision underscores the high burden of proof required in such privacy cases.
