Duke of Sussex & Others vs ANL: thread 6

[bluegreygreen]

This is the sixth 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 (AW).

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, following the Consequentials hearing 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
Thread 5

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

Summary judgement

Full judgement

👋 many thanks @bluegreygreen!

Thanks for the new thread

I've mainly been lurking but even so thanks for these threads and especially the insight on legal technicalities that many posts have contained.

I’m finding this so informative. Thank you ☺️

Thanks 👍🏼

Thanks for the thread @bluegreygreen am off on holidays so hope nothing too exciting happens, it is going to rain which is event enough

I think the costs judgement is due next week @NormalAuntFanny, so you may have some catching up to do when you come back!

Thanks, @bluegreygreen. You are a treasure. Next week will be busy.

May I take a moment to express my admiration at your new name! 🥰

Yes, love your name changes, @AutumnCrowOfTheBailey.

Thank you @bluegreygreen

Superb name change @AutumnCrowOfTheBailey 👏👏👏

Thank you Bluegreygreen.

Yes. Interesting times next week.

Thanks for the new thread

You are all very kind

Would it be public knowledge who pays what?

I doubt it.

Thanks for the new thread! Do we know which day of the week the costs will be announced?

It was reported as 'in the week of 17th August'.

My guess is Tuesday or Thursday.

I've checked my diary and I'm inexplicably free both days. Yay! 🎉

Thanks. 🙏 🍿

Oops - it really is a guess!

I would expect legal costs and decisions regarding who pays what will be a matter of public record handled through London's High Court. The judges ruling will be in public records.
If not on the front page of DM it will be in the court documents of the day. The trial was very public which was what the claimants wanted. It will be hard to argue for privacy now, unless ANL request it.

I thought that the judge was just going to announce an amount to be paid and leave it to the claimants to divide up the costs?

Of course the claimants will need to pay their individual solicitors as well. Did they all use Sherborne's team in court?

Good summary at the end of the last thread of the total lack of evidence and the stretching to provide any.