Prince Harry has opted to withdraw his libel case against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Mail on Sunday, marking a significant turn in his legal battles with prominent UK tabloids. Reported by The People.
This decision, a component of a trio of lawsuits, was communicated on the deadline for document submissions. The dispute originated from a Mail on Sunday article in February 2022, which alleged that Prince Harry concealed information about his efforts to secure police protection in the UK. The article further asserted that his aides attempted to present the situation in a positive light.
In July 2022, the High Court provided a ruling on the article’s meaning, deeming specific portions defamatory and advancing the case.
Prince Harry’s abrupt withdrawal from this lawsuit will come at a considerable financial cost. As reported by the Daily Mail, now he has to settle the joint bill for legal services, which exceeds £750,000.
Despite earlier legal victories, his primary focus remains on the legality of decisions made by the Royal and VIP Executive Committee regarding his security since relocating to California in 2020. In December, he expressed concerns about his family’s safety in the UK.
Notably, he recently secured a legal victory against Mirror Group Newspapers and is currently involved in ongoing legal battles against News Group Newspapers and the now-defunct News of the World, addressing privacy invasions spanning from the mid-1990s to 2016 and ANL for alleged illegal information gathering.