Prince Harry has released a new statement following his decision to drop the libel case against the Mail on Sunday, emphasizing that the safety of his family is his top priority over continuing a court battle. A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex conveyed to GB News that Prince Harry is more concerned about avoiding a platform for the Mail’s “false claims” from years ago rather than pursuing legal action.
According to reports by Express News, While there have been speculations regarding the legal costs, reported to be around £750,000, the actual costs remain undetermined. The spokesperson clarified that Prince Harry is willing to cover his own police protection expenses in the UK, awaiting the resolution of his case against the Home Office.
Despite discontinuing the libel case, Prince Harry is said to maintain his disagreement with The Mail’s ‘honest opinion’ defense. The focus of the legal dispute was an article in the “news” section of The Mail on Sunday, not the “opinion” section, and was presented as an “exclusive.”
Earlier today, reports emerged that Prince Harry decided to abandon his libel case against the Mail on Sunday. The royal was expected to provide legal documents, but instead, he chose to withdraw his case before the deadline for his lawyers to submit a list of files.
The Duke of Sussex’s lawyer notified the High Court at 10 am about the discontinuation of the case, which initially centered on an article alleging that Prince Harry’s PR aides attempted to manipulate a dispute with the Home Office. The disagreement revolved around the Home Office’s decision to downgrade his tax-funded police protection, with Prince Harry contending that the article falsely accused him of attempting to confuse the public.
Both Prince Harry and the Mail on Sunday had a deadline to disclose relevant documents today. However, the Duke’s legal team informed the publication that a notice had been filed with the court, stating, “The Duke of Sussex discontinues all of this claim.”
As this legal development unfolds, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have yet to publicly comment on the news that King Charles and the Princess of Wales will undergo surgery in hospital next week. The royal couple’s decision to step back from the libel case reflects their ongoing efforts to prioritize the safety and well-being of their family amid continued media scrutiny.
