Prince Harry, High-Profile Figures Ordered to Pay £9.5 Million in Legal Fees

Mr Justice Nicklin exonerated Mail journalists on July 7, dismissing all allegations of hacking, bugging, and blagging; none of the claimants' assertions were upheld.

The judge recognized the claim as part of a 'co-ordinated media and litigation campaign' designed to challenge evidence the Daily Mail had given to the Leveson Inquiry.

The high court case involved an 11-week trial in London earlier this year; the trial reportedly lasted 46 days in 2026.

The claimants' legal action reportedly began in March 2022, making allegations of unlawful information gathering against Associated Newspapers Ltd.

Associated Newspapers asserts serious criminal allegations of phone hacking were sprung on wrongly-accused journalists without any foundation, with some aspects deemed 'not only unfair' but 'in flagrant breach' of the judge's repeated warnings.

The group of claimants, including Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley, and Sir Simon Hughes, had argued for an interim payment of just over £7.9 million.

Sir Simon Hughes's representative states he did not 'plan to target' Associated Newspapers.

The initial costs are understood to be covered by the claimants' insurance, though Associated Newspapers contends their insurance policy only covers them for £16.2 million.

ANL's total costs reportedly amounted to over £34.5 million, while the claimants' own legal costs are thought likely to be at least £20 million.