Duke of Sussex & Others vs ANL: thread 5

[bluegreygreen]

This is the fifth thread discussing the case Prince Harry (and 6 others) brought against the Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers Limited; ANL) for alleged unlawful information gathering (UIG).
The claimants were: Prince Harry (PH); Doreen Lawrence (DL); Liz Hurley (EH/LH); Elton John (EJ); David Furnish (DF); Simon Hughes (SH); Sadie Frost (SF). They were represented by David Sherborne (DS).
The defendant (ANL) was represented by Anthony White (AMW).

Judgement was handed down by Judge Nicklin on 7th July 2026.
All claims were dismissed.
Links to the summary and full judgement are below.
We are currently awaiting decisions around costs, with the next hearing due on 29-30th July.

The threads to date were thorough discussions of the evidence (so far as we were able to obtain it), with posters giving links and explaining their views.
Following the judgement, we discussed the judgement itself, the reaction, statements made by different parties and ongoing relevant issues.

We have mostly kept things civil by avoiding more general discussion on Royal Family members, which can become partisan, and trying not to be derailed from the main topic of the thread.

We have occasionally included (when things slowed with the title case) other cases or discussions with a specific theme of free speech/press freedom, particularly when related to those with money or power preventing others from speaking.

Links to previous threads
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4

There was limited direct reporting from court after the celebrities gave evidence; what there we followed on this link
Sky news link to court case

Summary judgement

Full judgement

Depends. Is she in a position to sue them for it?

... and she went on to say

Asked what she made of Harry’s post-trial statement, she said: “I think it’s partly petulant, childish behavior of someone that really is not a child anymore, even though he behaves like one.”

@ThatCyanCat The King and his advisers did tell H not to do this. It’s very rare for the RF to go near a court. The fact H won’t take any notice of anyone is not the fault of the King. If my child made public all the dirty linen and nasty accusations H did, it would be not 1p from me.

If Harry and Elton Jesus said they would both underwrite this to Doreen Lawrence then Harry surely can't back out

Always remembering we can't know whether this was true in the first place, Harry will back out of whatever he wishes to, @Desperatelyseekinglazysusan

It couldn't be more obvious that his only real concern is for himself, and if it comes to it Doreen will be flicked aside like an irritating insect

Obviously, it's not the King's fault. I didn't suggest it was. But even if my child had been an absolute and total twat, for years, they're still my child and if they were facing something really awful, even if it was their fault, I'd struggle to just sit back and let it happen.

I think Harry will feel this financial hit, but I expect he can take it.

Arguably taking the financial hit might be exactly what H needs to understand actions have consequences.

Based on some people (presumably W) not forgiving him just “because I wrote a book”, I would suggest it’s a lesson he’s not yet fully absorbed.

I feel the same. But you and I are private citizens and have that luxury.

But the dad here is also our Head of State, whose son attacked (and lost to) the fourth estate and then attacked the judicial system his dad presides over.

After QE2 bailing out AMW, the HoS would have to think hard about bailing out another spare.

Plus, if I thought that the money I gave my wayward son to save him from ruin would allow him to continue to fund attacks on my other son, his wife and my wife.... Nah.

School of tough love.

I’m not so sure he can afford to take the hit. Their living expenses are such, the house, security, her designer clothes and jewellery etc. that they must have ploughed through a small fortune. And their income streams ie. Netflix, Spotify etc. dried up long ago. I can’t see her jam and sprinkles being anywhere near enough to finance much more than a fortnight in Benidorm tbh.

i know someone whose son got in over his head (online gambling). They went to an agency who rolled it all up and organised a five year payment plan.

His parents offered to pay it off, but were advised against it as he would learn nothing and just do it again.

He did learn, they kept that amount to add to a house deposit. Sometimes tough love is the only way to learn

They aren’t billionaires so can’t afford the lifestyle

Andrew was bailed out repeatedly by the Queen and other dodgy characters and look how that turned out

If my child was a totally selfish and deluded twat I wouldn't shield them from the consequences. I would support them to make a plan to cope with the consequences. I would still love them and make it clear I loved them whatever their mistakes. If they lost everything I would provide the basics so they weren't homeless. But I wouldn't bail them out and enable them to avoid the consequences.

He's asked Elton John to pay his bills apparently so obviously he thinks he can't afford it.

If he's keeping all his inheritances for his children as he says, or in trusts, he is relying on Meghan to make the money for their day to day expenses. I doubt she'll be happy if this fools errand means they have to downsize and seriously cut back their expenses, or the children's trust funds get raided.

I think the King will refuse to bail them out, and Megan will write a tell all to cover the bill.

Presumably she was supportive of it while it was ongoing.

That's a distinct possibility.

But won't they have to pay a certain amount within a short time of the ruling?

The processes that have to be gone through before the next hearing (29/07) are here

Order

The article linked upthread (Times, 10th July) which had discussion from a costs judge explained that a significant proportion of the costs decided usually must be paid within 14 days.

I don’t. I think she will keep her powder dry. She will let PH dig himself out of his own mess. She couldn’t even stomach accompanying him on the numerous charity visits she had already announced she was attending only 48hrs before. She didn’t support him when the shit hit the fan this week. Her memoir will be her post divorce bonanza that she doesn’t have to share with PH.

A reminder: Please can we keep this thread just for the ANL court case, and keep general RF issues to other threads?

I know it's easy to get sidetracked (especially recently when we've been talking about costs) but over the course of the 5 threads it really has been better when we've kept strictly to topic.

Point taken @bluegreygreen, my comment was genuinely meant; I do think a publisher would advance a fortune for her book which would go some way to covering bills. Derailing was not intentional. Back to the nuts and bolts.

Harry is notoriously mean with his own money.

It was the final straw of Harry and Cressida's relationship when he was invited to Guy Pelly's wedding in the USA and she was his +1. At the time she was a struggling actress (had only graduated about 9 months earlier) but Harry demanded she pay for her airfare - £650 (almost £1,000 today). She said she couldn't afford it - they argued and broke up!

Is the costs hearing just lawyers?

Sorry @Crucible - wasn't aimed at you or anyone in particular.

I don't think EJ should feel obligated to pay H's bills. He may have introduced DS to H but H was under no obligation to bring his last two court cases. I've met the chap who is going to do the double glazing in my son's flat , but I'm under no obligation to get mine done as well. H will have enough money to cover his share , he might have to tighten his belt a bit. Now EJ may have said to all of them he'll cover the / most of the costs - if he has - up to him. I just don't think he should feel obligated.