Prince Harry and others face massive legal bill after losing phone-hacking case against Daily Mail publisher

Published Aug 20, 04:10 PM UTC

Prince Harry and six other high-profile claimants, including Sir Elton John, Liz Hurley, and Doreen Lawrence, face a potentially enormous legal bill after losing their phone-hacking lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail. The group's claims of illegal information gathering and phone hacking were dismissed in July after an 11-week trial. A High Court hearing on Friday will determine the costs the claimants must pay. The publisher's legal costs are estimated at over £34 million, with insurance covering only £16.2 million. A costs expert said the publisher will likely pursue Prince Harry for the shortfall. The judge may also decide whether costs should be awarded on an indemnity basis, which would increase the payout, if the claimants' conduct is deemed unreasonable. The battle over costs is expected to be intense and could take years to fully resolve.