Prince Harry and co facing £34.5m legal bill in phone hacking case
Published: 21/08/2026
| BBC News
Prince Harry and six other high-profile co-claimants are facing paying legal costs up to £34.5 million to Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) after a High Court judge ordered exceptional legal costs following the dismissal of their phone-hacking lawsuit.
Mr Justice Nicklin ordered the group to make an interim payment of £9.54 million to ANL. Costs were awarded on an indemnity basis, which permits ANL to seek recovery well beyond pre-agreed trial budgets.
The judge criticised the claimants' conduct as "unreasonable to a high degree", noting their failure to withdraw serious allegations lacking proper evidential support. While describing ANL's total cost claim as excessive, he declined to impose a ceiling on recoverable expenses.
With legal insurance only covering £16.2 million, the claimants face potential personal liabilities of roughly £18 million.
The claimants have until 2 October to pursue an appeal.
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