The High Court's verdict is in and it's a crushing blow for Prince Harry as he loses his phone hacking case against the Daily Mail's publisher. In a devastating 436-page judgment, Mr Justice Nicklin delivered the knockout punch, dismissing all claims brought by the group of seven high-profile figures who had accused Associated Newspapers of illegal information gathering over three decades. It was a fight that went the distance but in the end, Prince Harry's corner couldn't muster enough evidence to prove their allegations.
The verdict is a severe setback for the Duke of Sussex, who took on the might of one of Britain's most influential newspapers along with an A-list cast including Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish. The case centred on 14 articles published between 2001 and 2013 which Prince Harry claimed used dodgy tactics to scoop private info – but the judge wasn't convinced, ruling that the evidence presented "didn't prove" the information must have been obtained illegally.
The costly battle had all the makings of a high-stakes sporting event: an 11-week trial with over 40 witnesses and reported legal costs of up to £50 million. In the end, it was Associated Newspapers who emerged victorious, their editor-in-chief Paul Dacre hailing the decision as "an overwhelming vindication of our journalism." He took aim at Prince Harry's credibility too, suggesting his concerns about privacy were hypocritical given revelations in his memoir.
This defeat marks a third successive courtroom battle for Prince Harry against a newspaper group – and it's clear that this one has left him feeling battered. With costs estimated to be between £40-50 million, the price of failure will be steep indeed. It's a painful reminder that sometimes even with conviction, you can't win them all.