Prince Harry has suffered a setback in his legal battle against the Mail on Sunday, as he has been ordered to pay over £48,000 after failing to strike out part of the newspaper’s defence in a libel case.

This comes as a blow to the Duke of Sussex, who had hoped to dismiss certain claims made by the publication.

The lawsuit revolves around an article written by the Mail on Sunday about Prince Harry’s ongoing dispute with the Home Office regarding his security arrangements while in the UK.

The Duke of Sussex alleges that the article contained significant inaccuracies and defamed him by suggesting that he lied in his initial public statements about the case.

Associated Newspapers, the publishers of the Mail on Sunday, have countered these claims by arguing that the article expressed an honest opinion and did not cause any serious harm to Prince Harry’s reputation.

They maintain that their intention was not to defame him but rather to present their perspective on the matter.

Prince Harry sought to have this defence thrown out but was unsuccessful in his attempt.

In a recent ruling, a High Court judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, determined that the publisher had a valid argument and that the case should proceed to trial.

The judge even speculated that the defendant may argue that the article was a successful attempt to mislead or confuse the public.

Consequently, Prince Harry has been instructed to pay the Mail on Sunday’s legal costs, amounting to £48,447, by December 20th.

This financial burden adds to the already tense atmosphere surrounding the ongoing litigation.

In February 2022, the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online published an article titled “How Prince Harry Tried to Keep His Legal Fight with the Government Over Police Bodyguards a Secret.”

The piece highlighted Prince Harry’s alleged efforts to keep his publicly funded protection in the UK concealed after stepping down as a working member of the Royal Family in 2020.

In response, Prince Harry’s public relations team swiftly attempted to spin the narrative in a positive light.

However, the government has stood by its decision to reduce his security provision, asserting that it treated him fairly and only provides occasional security when he visits.

As the legal battle continues, Prince Harry finds himself facing financial consequences while striving to defend his reputation.