Prince Harry and six others ordered to pay initial £9.5m to Daily Mail publisher

Prince Harry and six other high‑profile figures have been ordered to pay an initial £9.54m to Associated Newspapers Limited after losing their High Court privacy case against the Daily Mail publisher. The seven claimants – Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, Sir Simon Hughes, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley and Baroness Doreen Lawrence – must make the payment by 28 August and could face further costs of up to £25m if additional hearings go against them. Justice Mr Justice Nicklin dismissed the claims on 7 July, stating that the nationalist figures had failed to substantiate allegations of unlawful information‑gathering by ANL, which the publisher had strenuously denied. The ruling follows the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s announcement that they intend to return to the UK, with their children Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five, set to begin school in September. During the trial, dozens of witnesses gave evidence, including Prince Harry and the other claimants; the Duke of Sussex travelled from the United States to attend proceedings in person. Numerous current and former Associated Newspapers journalists and executives testified, denying any wrongdoing. In a statement issued after the judgment, Prince Harry and Baroness Doreen Lawrence – whose son Stephen was murdered in 1993 – said, “We came to Court seeking justness and accountability. But we person received neither.” They added, “It is simply a implicit and evident whitewash, but sadly not altogether unexpected”, the brace added. ANL had sought more than £9.9m as an interim payment to cover its legal costs ahead of further hearings, while the claimants’ lawyers argued the sum should be closer to £7.9m. Justice Nicklin had previously indicated that the claimants would need to settle the interim amount by 28 August. This breaking news story is being updated; additional details will be published shortly.