Prince Harry has unexpectedly withdrawn his libel lawsuit against the Mail on Sunday, resulting in a substantial legal bill estimated at £750,000. The Duke of Sussex's decision to discontinue his claim came just before a deadline for his lawyers to submit a list of relevant documents to the court. This move, announced at 10 am today by his legal representatives at the High Court, marks a significant shift in the ongoing legal battle.
The dispute initially arose from a Mail on Sunday article that reported on Prince Harry's legal challenge against the Home Office regarding changes to his publicly-funded security following his step back from senior royal duties and move to the United States. The article suggested that Prince Harry had attempted to 'spin' the dispute, leading him to claim it unfairly accused him of trying to mislead the public. The Duke contended that the story falsely insinuated he had "lied" and "cynically" tried to manipulate public opinion, attacking his "honesty and integrity."
In contrast, the Mail on Sunday, published by Associated Newspapers, defended the article as an "honest opinion" that did not cause "serious harm" to Prince Harry's reputation. This stance was partly upheld in a previous court decision last month, where Mr. Justice Nicklin ruled that the newspaper group's argument had a "real prospect" of success.
With the discontinuation of the libel case, Prince Harry now faces the publisher's legal costs of around £250,000, in addition to his own, bringing the total estimated expense to over £750,000. A spokesperson for the Sussexes noted that the Duke is now prioritizing the safety of his family and his separate legal action against the Home Office over his security arrangements in the UK.
The withdrawal of the lawsuit coincides with an important event in Prince Harry's life. He is set to receive the Legend of Aviation Award at the 21st annual Living Legend of Aviation Awards tonight, hosted by actor and qualified pilot John Travolta. However, it remains unclear whether Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend the ceremony in person.
This development in Prince Harry's legal affairs comes amid a relatively low-profile year for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. They have not publicly commented on recent news, including King Charles's upcoming surgery, maintaining a discreet presence in 2024.
