Prince Harry Ordered To Pay $62,000 Legal Costs To Mail On Sunday Publisher
Prince Harry has been ordered to pay The Mail on Sunday‘s legal costs of nearly £50,000 ($62,800) after trying to have part of the UK tabloid paper’s libel defense thrown out.
The Duke of Sussex is suing the newspaper’s publishers, Associated Newspapers, over an article about his fight for better security arrangements since his move to LA with wife Meghan Markle.
More from Deadline
BBC News To Start Search For First Royal Editor Amid Soaring Audience Interest In Monarchy
Piers Morgan Explains He Shared Royal Names "To Finish Blackmail Threat By Harry And Meghan"
BBC Names Royals Accused In Omid Scobie Book Of Commenting On Skin Color Of Harry & Meghan's Son
In the past few minutes, the judge in the case has quashed Harry’s attempt to have part of the newspaper’s case thrown, and said the publisher has a “real prospect” of arguing its case. The headline of the story read: “How Prince Harry tried to keep his legal fight with the government over bodyguards a secret … then – just minutes after the story broke – his PR machine tried to put positive spin on the dispute.”
Harry’s lawyers argued that the ‘honest opinion’ part of Associated Newspapers’ case should be thrown out. Instead, he has been ordered to pay its legal costs of £48,447 by 29 December. If a settlement isn’t reached by both parties, the libel trial will be held between May and July next year.
Harry is involved with several legal actions at present. In another against Associated Newspapers, the Prince and a group including Elton John are suing over allegations of unlawful information gathering, which a judge recently ruled can go to trial.
Best of Deadline
2023 Premiere Dates For New & Returning Series On Broadcast, Cable & Streaming
2023-24 Awards Season Calendar - Dates For Oscars, Emmys, Grammys, Tonys, Guilds & More
Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.