Prince Harry ‘may drop his case against The Sun over the possible cost of the legal bill’

Prince Harry could be ‘forced’ to settle his High Court case against The Sun because of concerns over a huge legal bill, even if he wins.

David Sherborne, lawyer for the Duke of Sussex, said his client faced an ‘impossible’ threat of high legal costs by continuing the case. 

Harry and actor Hugh Grant are among dozens of stars who sued over their private information allegedly being stolen by The Sun.

Yesterday, at a pre-trial hearing, the High Court was told Grant, 63, had agreed a settlement and was no longer involved in the case.

The star later stressed on social media he had ‘had to’ settle – to avoid the risk of a possible ‘£10million’ legal bill.

David Sherborne, lawyer for the Duke of Sussex, said his client faced an ‘impossible’ threat of high legal costs by continuing the case

In 2021, actress Sienna Miller agreed a similar deal. She said that even if she had won, her costs would have run to millions had she rejected the offer to settle.

Harry is among 42 remaining individuals still suing The Sun’s publisher News Group Newspapers for allegedly snooping on their private information, which it strenuously denies.

Yesterday Harry’s lawyer told the court: ‘The Duke of Sussex is subject to the same issues that Sienna Miller and Hugh Grant have been subjected to – that offers have been made [to settle] that makes it impossible for them to go ahead.’

Grant later said he hadn’t wanted to settle but added: ‘The rules around civil litigation mean that if I proceed to trial, and the court awards me damages that are even a penny less than the settlement offer, I would have to pay the legal costs of both sides.’

NGN has always rejected allegations of any wrongdoing by staff at The Sun.