On Monday, December 11, 2023, a Judge in London, Matthew Nicklin ordered Prince Harry to pay the legal fees of a British Newspaper Publisher after he lost part of a High Court libel case.
King Charles III’s younger son, living in the United States, sued Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) over claims made in its Mail on Sunday title.
Prince Harry had tried to throw out the newspaper group’s defense of “honest opinion” because it had no real prospect of success, but the action was unsuccessful.
Judge Matthew Nicklin on Monday, December 11, 2023, ordered Harry to pay ANL £48,447 ($60,850) costs incurred dealing with the application by December 29.
The Judge stated further that a full hearing in the case would be heard between May and July next year, lasting three or four days.
Harry sued the British Newspaper over a February 2022 article about his legal challenge against the government’s changes to his taxpayer-funded security when he visits the UK.
The article which claimed to reveal contradictions about Harry’s willingness to pay for security himself, was argued by his lawyers as “an attack on his honesty and integrity”.
The publisher disagreed and submitted that the article was an “honest opinion”, and did not induce damage to his reputation.
Judge Nicklin refused to “strike out” ANL’s defense on Friday.
The case against the publisher is one of several involving Harry and British newspaper groups for issues including breach of privacy and illegal information gathering.
In his case against the UK government, Harry said the changes to his security details made it unsafe for him, his American wife Meghan, and their two young children to visit the UK.
The Home Office disputes that he has been treated less favorably and says “bespoke” arrangements are in place for whenever he visits from the United States.
A decision was made not to provide him with thlevel of protection because he had quit royal duties in early 2020 and moved to the United States, its lawyers have said.
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