Prince Harry and several other public figures could be required to cover a substantial share of Associated Newspapers' legal expenses after their privacy claims against the Daily Mail publisher failed, London's High Court was told Wednesday.
Earlier this month, a judge at London's High Court comprehensively ruled against King Charles' younger son, singer Elton John and five other British figures, rejecting allegations that the Mail titles had engaged in widespread unlawful activities, such as phone hacking.
Associated said it was an overwhelming victory for its newspaper and journalists, and "for a free press generally", while the prince, 41, described the ruling as a "complete and obvious whitewash".
At a hearing on Wednesday to determine how much of the Mail's legal costs the claimants should pay, Associated's lawyer Antony White argued they should do so on an "indemnity basis", under which the losing party must cover the other side's charges without the need to show they were proportionate.
The court heard that Associated had incurred a legal bill of £34.5 million ($45.8 million), while Harry and other claimants only have an insurance policy which covers £16 million.
