Prince Harry is facing the possibility of an eye-watering legal bill coming his way in the wake of his failed $96 million legal battle against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), and according to an insider, there’s only one person who can save him.
On Tuesday, the 41-year-old lost his privacy case against ANL, publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, after claiming the company had obtained private information about him unlawfully.
Justice Matthew Nicklin dismissed all 97 claims, representing the biggest setback in Harry’s campaign to hold parts of the media accountable through the courts.
The decision also ends the claims brought forward by six other prominent figures, including Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, David Furnish, Doreen Lawrence and former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes.
Now, an insider has revealed that the reality behind the loss is slowly sinking in for the Duke of Sussex, with the possible financial toll on the royal being “beyond anything” he could have imagined prior to launching the lawsuit.
“If he’s forced to cough up, it’s hard to imagine it won’t wipe him and Meghan out — or at least put them in a dire position that they’ll be struggling to deal with for years – which is obviously a terrifying prospect beyond belief,” the source told Woman’s Day.
They added that the Duke of Sussex can’t help but worry that he “may be on the hook for millions of pounds”.
“If that happens, the only person that will reasonably be able to save him is the King,” they added.
While it is not known whether Harry and his fellow claimants will be responsible for footing the legal costs, it has been reported that there will be another hearing in July to discuss any unresolved points under dispute.
ANL has stated that it will look to recover the costs it incurred “while defending… against this egregious litigation”.
Shortly after the verdict was handed down on Tuesday, the Duke of Sussex issued a joint statement with Baroness Doreen Lawrence.
“We came to court seeking justice and accountability. But we received neither,” the statement read.
“It is a complete and obvious whitewash, but sadly not altogether unexpected.”
ANL dubbed the outcome an “overwhelming victory” and a “magnificent vindication” of the Daily Mail’s reporting.