Prince Harry and six other high-profile claimants have lost their phone-hacking lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, resulting in a combined legal bill of more than £50m. The High Court ruling, delivered by Mr Justice Nicklin on Tuesday, dismissed all claims of unlawful information gathering, stating that suspicion was not proof.
Ruling Dismisses Claims
The judge ruled overwhelmingly in favor of ANL, saying the claimants—including Doreen Lawrence, mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence, and singer Elton John—had not proven unlawful information gathering. Of Prince Harry's evidence, Nicklin noted that while the duke wished to convey the personal impact, he sometimes advanced arguments rather than factual evidence. This behavior, the judge wrote, was "not uncommon: many litigants feel a strong instinct to argue their case themselves."
Harry's Response
In a joint statement with Doreen Lawrence, Harry condemned the ruling as "a complete and obvious whitewash but sadly not altogether unexpected." They added, "However, the lengths to which the court has gone to exonerate the Mail is as shocking as it is totally unwarranted." The pair said they had sought justice and accountability but received neither, calling it "one rule for the newspapers and another for the claimants."
Financial and Personal Fallout
The legal defeat could cost Harry and his co-claimants over £50m collectively, even with insurance. The timing of the ruling coincided with a rare UK visit by the California-based royal, which his aides cited as a reason for King Charles withdrawing an offer of accommodation at Buckingham Palace, citing insufficient notice for hospitality and staffing.
Harry's Media Battle
Harry has described his legal battles against sections of the British media as a "mission" and a "life's work." In December 2023, he claimed victory against Mirror Group Newspapers over unlawful information gathering, saying "slaying dragons will get you burned" but that it was a "worthwhile price to pay." He also settled a case against News Group Newspapers in 2025, receiving an apology for "serious intrusion." However, Tuesday's loss leaves him "burned" emotionally, according to analysis.
Harry has been publicly critical of his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, for refusing to take on the media. In his memoir Spare, he accused his family of complicity through alleged leaking, writing: "Pa's office, Willy's office, enabling these fiends, if not outright collaborating." Charles had reportedly called such legal battles a "suicide mission."
Harry's determination stems from the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, while being chased by paparazzi, and his desire to protect his own family from media scrutiny. Despite previous victories, the judge's unequivocal ruling emphasized that suspicion is not proof, leaving Harry with few words of solace.
