Prince Harry loses privacy case against Daily Mail, could face £50 million in legal costs

The High Court in London dismissed all 97 privacy claims brought by Prince Harry and six co‑plaintiffs, including Elton John, David Furnish and Elizabeth Hurley, against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. Judge Mr Justice Nicklin ruled that the claimants had not provided sufficient evidence that the newspaper used illegal methods such as phone tapping or hacking to obtain private information, and therefore ordered the case dismissed.

The ruling leaves Harry and the other claimants potentially liable for up to £50 million in legal costs. Following the decision, Harry described the judgment as a “complete and obvious whitewash”, a comment that was rebuked by senior judge Lord Burnett for undermining judicial independence.

In parallel, journalist Charlotte Griffiths, who testified in the case, said Harry had met her on several occasions, contradicting his court statement that they had met only once. She claimed that at a 2011 hunting weekend in Hampshire he placed a small white pill on her tongue, saying “Now I know I can trust you,” and that the pill was likely paracetamol. Griffiths also detailed ongoing private messages between them, suggesting a closer relationship than Harry asserted.

The outcome marks the latest defeat for Harry in his legal battles with British tabloids, after earlier successful actions against Mirror Group Newspapers and a settlement with The Sun.