A London High Court has ordered Prince Harry and six other celebrities to pay Rs 124 crore as interim legal costs to the publisher of the Daily Mail, after their privacy lawsuit was dismissed.
The case was filed against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), which publishes the Daily Mail. The claimants included Prince Harry, singer Sir Elton John, and actor Elizabeth Hurley, among others.
They alleged that ANL journalists and editors used unlawful methods over several years to gather information about them. The accusations included phone tapping, stealing voicemails, and planting covert devices in cars and homes, forming 97 separate claims.
After an 11-week hearing, the court ruled that the claimants failed to prove any of the 97 allegations with sufficient evidence and dismissed the case. Following ANL’s win, the court directed the claimants to cover the publisher’s defence costs.
ANL is reported to have spent up to Rs 444 crore on the litigation. The court has ordered an immediate payment of Rs 124 crore as a first instalment, with the remaining amount to be paid later, adding significant financial pressure on the claimants.
