The Duke of Sussex and six other claimants are facing a potential legal bill exceeding £18 million following the dismissal of their privacy claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail in the High Court. The group had accused Associated Newspapers Limited of engaging in phone hacking, bugging, and blagging, allegations the court ultimately rejected.

Associated Newspapers has demanded an initial payment of £10 million to cover part of its legal costs and has indicated that it intends to pursue further sums. The publisher criticised the claimants’ conduct during the proceedings, describing it as “outrageous” given the serious nature of the accusations made.

The claimants brought the case seeking redress for alleged breaches of privacy, but the court found their claims to be speculative and lacking sufficient evidence. As a result, the judge ruled in favour of the publisher, dismissing the claims in full.

Legal experts note that such high legal costs reflect the complexity and scale of the case, which involved extensive litigation over allegations of illegal information-gathering tactics in the media industry.

The Duke of Sussex and his legal team have yet to comment on the ruling or the potential financial implications. Associated Newspapers has maintained that its reporting was lawful and that the claims were without merit.

The dispute highlights ongoing tensions between public figures and media organisations over privacy rights and press freedom in the United Kingdom.