Steerpike Steerpike

Prince Harry faces £750k libel bill

Photo by Leon Neal/Getty Images

It seems the renegade royal has run away again. All of Fleet Street was eagerly anticipating the mother of all media showdowns this month, with Prince Harry due in court for his libel trial with the publishers of the Mail on Sunday, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). The MoS is the biggest selling Sunday in the land while the Prince smelled blood after his Christmas triumph against the Mirror.

Harry’s claim concerned a February 2022 article about his publicly funded security arrangements when visiting the UK. Lawyers for the dilettante Duke claimed the story ‘purported to reveal, in sensational terms’ that information from court documents ‘contradicted public statements he had previously made about his willingness to pay for police protection for himself and his family whilst in the UK’. ANL contested the claim, arguing the article expressed an ‘honest opinion’ and did not cause ‘serious harm’ to his reputation.

The stage was set for a showdown at the High Court today.

Get Britain's best politics newsletters

Register to get The Spectator's insight and opinion straight to your inbox. You can then read two free articles each week.

Already a subscriber? Log in

Steerpike
Written by
Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

Topics in this article

Comments

Join the debate for just £1 a month

Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for £3.

Already a subscriber? Log in