Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has faced yet another setback as he wraps up a challenging year.
He has been ordered to pay nearly £50,000 in legal fees to the publisher of the Daily Mail tabloid after losing a court battle.
This news comes at an unfortunate time, with Christmas just around the corner.
The bill is a result of Prince Harry’s failed court challenge in a libel lawsuit against the mail on Sunday.
The judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, ruled that the Duke must cover the legal costs incurred by Associated in relation to the summary judgment application.
This decision has raised concerns among royal experts, who warn that not every battle is worth fighting.
Royal expert Kinsey Schofield expressed her thoughts on the matter, stating that this has been a terrible year for Prince Harry and Meghan.
Receiving a £50,000 bill from the court during the holiday season adds insult to injury.
Schofield hopes that the couple will reconsider their strategy moving forward, emphasizing that not every conflict needs to be turned into a book or reality TV show.
Prince Harry’s ongoing legal battles have drawn criticism, with Schofield noting that it does not reflect well on him.
While the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children are engaged in charitable endeavors, Harry seems to be entangled in disputes with various parties, believing he is being treated unfairly.
This lack of self-awareness and growing resentment has raised eyebrows.
In his written order, Mr Justice Nicklin stated that the costs should be assessed if they were not agreed upon.
However, he also directed Prince Harry to pay Associated £48,447 before the end of the year.
The judge’s order outlines the timeline for further hearings, with a trial scheduled to take place between May 17 and July 31, 2024, estimated to last three days.
A pre-trial review hearing will occur approximately two months before the trial.
Prince Harry’s lawsuit against Associated stems from a February 2022 article that discussed his legal challenge against the Home Office.
The article claimed that court documents contradicted his previous public statements about paying for police protection while in the UK.
His lawyers argue that the article attacked his honesty and integrity, potentially undermining his charity work and efforts to combat online misinformation.
Associated, on the other hand, is contesting the claim, asserting that the article expressed an honest opinion and did not cause serious harm to Prince Harry’s reputation.
In March, the High Court heard Prince Harry’s bid to strike out Associated’s defense or grant judgment in his favor.
However, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled against striking out the defense, stating that the publisher had a real prospect of successfully demonstrating at trial that Prince Harry’s previous statements were misleading.
A hearing to address the consequences of Mr Justice Nicklin’s summary judgment decision was scheduled for Tuesday.
This latest development adds to the legal challenges Prince Harry is facing and further complicates an already difficult year.