The Daily Mail has reportedly ordered Prince Harry and six other high-profile figures to pay a staggering £9.54 million as part of a settlement following a protracted legal battle. The claimants, including Sir Elton John and Liz Hurley, sued Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information-gathering, a claim vehemently denied by the publisher. On July 7th, Judge Mr. Justice Nicklin dismissed the allegations, stating that the public figures had failed to prove the claims, marking a significant shift in the case’s trajectory. The Duke of Sussex, traveling from the United States to attend court proceedings in person, has been the central figure in the dispute, prompting considerable media attention. The seven claimants, including Prince Harry, Sir Elton John, and his husband David Furnish, are now facing a deadline to make the initial payment, with the deadline set for this coming week. The claimants are Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, Sir Simon Hughes, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence. During the trial, dozens of witnesses, including Prince Harry and the other claimants, testified, with the Duke of Sussex flying in to represent his interests. The legal battle has been characterized by a strong denial from Associated Newspapers, who vehemently denied any illegal activity. In a joint statement released following the judge’s ruling, Prince Harry and Baroness Doreen Lawrence stated: ‘We came to Court seeking justice and accountability. But we have received neither.’ The pair added that the settlement was a complete and obvious whitewash, but conceded that the situation was undeniably complex. ANL had initially requested more than £9.9 million as interim payment to cover legal costs, but lawyers for the claimants argued for a more modest £7.9 million. Mr. Justice Nicklin previously indicated that the claimants would need to pay the interim payment on August 28th. This breaking news story is being updated and will include further details shortly. Readers can receive Breaking News via a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App, or by following @BBCBreaking on X. The BBC News App and X are the best resources for the latest updates.
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Source: BBC News
