The Duke of Sussex and six other public figures will pay more than £9.5 million to the Daily Mail's publisher as the first instalment of legal costs following their unsuccessful High Court case.
The group, which includes Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Elton John, sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information-gathering. ANL strongly denied the claims, which were examined during an 11-week trial in London earlier this year.
Judge dismisses all claims
Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed every case in a judgment delivered on July 7. The matter returned to the High Court for a two-day hearing on costs, during which the court was informed that ANL's total costs exceeded £34 million.
In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Nicklin ordered the seven claimants to pay £9,544,355 by August 28 as an initial contribution towards the publisher's costs, ahead of further hearings to decide the full amount.
Indemnity basis ruling
The judge also determined that ANL's costs should be assessed on an indemnity basis, which is more advantageous to the publisher regarding the sum it can recover, except where orders had already been made.
ANL, which also publishes The Mail on Sunday, had requested more than £9.9 million as an interim payment. Lawyers for the claimants, which also include David Furnish, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley and Sir Simon Hughes, argued the interim payment should be just over £7.9 million.
Return to the UK
The judgment follows the announcement on Wednesday that Harry and his wife, the Duchess of Sussex, are relocating back to the UK. The couple, who moved to California more than six years ago, will return later this month to live in a non-royal residence outside London.
During a hearing in July, ANL said the group should pay the total costs on the indemnity rather than a standard basis. Nicholas Bacon KC, for the group, stated in written submissions that paying costs on the stricter basis could be “very significant” and might leave the claimants without sufficient insurance cover.
