Prince Harry’s battle with the press is going to cost him “millions of pounds” in legal fees, a litigation expert has warned.
The Duke of Sussex has been pursuing a case against the publisher of The Sun and the shut-down News of the World over allegations of illegal information gathering.
A judge ruled on Thursday the royal will be able to pursue only part of his case, dismissing allegations of phone hacking because of the lack of “witness or documentary evidence.”
Litigator Paul Britton warned the decision was “another blow” to Harry’s battle to protect his privacy.
But he also suggested the Duke will not let the ruling stop him from continuing what he perceives as entirely worth it.
Speaking to Daily Express, Britton said: “This is yet another blow for Prince Harry in his privacy war against the tabloids.
“The court decided that Harry could not proceed with his claim regarding phone hacking, but it did allow his allegations involving the use of private investigators to move forward to a trial, scheduled to begin in January 2024.”
The Britton and Time Solicitors litigator also estimated the ongoing legal case will likely set the Duke of Sussex back “millions of pounds.”
He continued: “The legal costs involved in these proceedings are likely to exceed the millions of pounds by the end of the year.
“I often have conversations with clients at the start of proceedings about funding requirements, and in many cases, I ask them whether it will all be worth it if things do not go their way.
“Price Harry, likely spurred on in part by his wife and by his personal vendetta against the tabloids he felt drove his mother to an early grave, seems to think it will be. I just cannot see it myself.”
He added: “There are obviously issues that need to be tried, but Harry is a young man and perhaps his effort would be best spent doing some good.”
The Duke launched his civil lawsuit last year alleging reporters at The Sun and the now-defunct News of The World had collected information about him.
He testified in court in June claiming the Royal Family had struck a “secret agreement” with the British tabloid press that prevented him and Prince William from pursuing a legal case over alleged phone hacking.
But the judge argued the Duke’s legal team had “not reached the necessary threshold of plausibility and cogency” that would have allowed his case to proceed.
The case against News Group Newspapers is one of six the Duke has brought to the courts in the past year.
In addition to claims about privacy violation, he also entered a legal battle with the Home Office over the decision that he and his family would not be receiving the “same degree” of protection as working members of the Royal Family.
The Duke has also insisted he should be able to pay out of pocket for police protection when visiting the UK.
But the Home Office has argued approving the payment would establish a difficult precedent that could “undermine public confidence”.
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