Prince Harry faces $20 million legal bill as he meets King Charles after court loss
Prince Harry lost a privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail publisher and may owe up to $20 million in costs, while he met his parents at Highgrove and is reportedly seeking financial help from close friends.
Prince Harry returned to the United Kingdom this week for a meeting with his father, King Charles, and Queen Camilla at the Highgrove estate, accompanied by wife Meghan Markle and their children. The reunion marked the first time the royal couple had seen their children at the estate in four years.
During the same period, a London judge dismissed Harry's privacy claim against Associated Newspapers Ltd, the publisher of the Daily Mail, finding that the newspaper’s reporting could have been based on legitimate sources. The ruling leaves Harry and the other claimants facing potential legal costs of up to $20 million, which must be paid within 14 days after the court finalises the amount.
A legal source said that funding for the case’s costs may come from parties that supported the claimants, including the estate of the late Formula 1 executive Max Mosley and the press-freedom group Hacked Off. The source added that close friend Sir Elton John, who performed at Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding and has a net worth estimated at $640 million, could also contribute.
Harry’s representatives declined to comment on the financial aspects of the case. The Sussexes’ security expenses are reported to be around $3 million annually, and they own a $14.5 million home in Montecito, California, with two mortgages. Their recent Netflix production deal ended, though they retain a first-look agreement under the Archewell banner.
Despite the legal setback, Harry visited a children’s hospital in Birmingham and attended a veterans’ event promoting the upcoming Invictus Games. He did not meet his brother Prince William, who was at a polo tournament in Windsor at the time.
"They don’t tell me every day that they’re proud of me. But yeah, I’m proud of them. They’re proud of me," Harry said in response to a comment from television host Alison Hammond.
The outcome of the case could affect the Sussexes’ financial planning, as insurers may withdraw coverage for the litigation costs, potentially leaving the claimants to bear the expenses themselves.