Prince Harry loses $63 million privacy lawsuit, faces steep legal costs

A UK High Court ruled on Tuesday that Prince Harry and six other claimants failed to prove illegal news-gathering by the Daily Mail, dismissing all 97 allegations in a $63 million privacy case. The judgment came as Harry was in the country to promote the upcoming Invictus Games.

Legal analysts said the defeat could trigger a "severe financial reckoning" for the Sussexes. Sources told the Daily Beast that the litigation against three British publishers has already cost tens of millions of dollars, with the Daily Mail case alone estimated at $38 million in fees. Under British law, the losing parties may also be ordered to pay a share of the winning side’s costs, potentially adding several million more.

The couple’s expenses include an annual $3 million personal security bill, a mortgage on their nine-bedroom Montecito home, and the loss of major production deals with Spotify and Netflix. Meghan’s As Ever lifestyle brand has reportedly struggled with unsold inventory, and the pair’s five-year financial runway is said to be tightening.

Commentators criticized Harry’s conduct in the trial. > "The financial reckoning is severe," said Dan Wakeford, former People magazine editor. > "He made a complete fool of himself in his evidence and in the witness box," added Tom Sykes, European editor at the Daily Beast.

Judge Nicklin concluded that the claimants relied on inference rather than concrete evidence to prove phone hacking and the acquisition of private medical records. Testimony from former royal reporters suggested a more amicable relationship with Harry than the lawsuit alleged.

Former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre expressed sympathy for Harry but called the case "a failed campaign against the free press," noting the paper’s historic ties to Princess Diana.