Judge cautions Duke of Sussex and fellow claimants as trial approaches
Harry has received a clear warning about the potential consequences of his £38 million privacy case against the Daily Mail. He and several other public figures have accused the Associated Newspaper group of using unlawful tactics to gather information, a claim they have been pursuing since 2022.
The Duke of Sussex is one of seven high-profile claimants, a group that includes Sir Elton John and actress Sadie Frost. Their case is expected to reach trial in January, and the judges have stressed that the financial stakes are unusually high.
Judges David Cook and Justice Nicklin said the estimated £38.8 million costs were far beyond what they considered reasonable. They urged all parties, especially the individual claimants, to understand the consequences of continuing the case at this scale. They noted that significant costs have already been incurred and that even more will follow as preparations for next year’s trial continue.
The warning arrives as Harry’s request for a review of his security arrangements in the United Kingdom has been accepted by the Home Office. After previously losing his legal challenge, he contacted Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood directly to ask for a full security risk assessment.
