In a recent development, Prince Harry has been ordered by a judge in London to pay the legal fees of a British newspaper publisher. The prince had lost part of a High Court libel case against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), the publisher of Mail on Sunday. Harry, who now resides in the United States, sued ANL over claims made in an article about his challenge against the government's changes to his taxpayer-funded security during his visits to the UK.

The prince had attempted to have ANL's defence of honest opinion thrown out, arguing that it had no real prospect of success. However, Judge Matthew Nicklin rejected Harry's request and ordered him to pay ANL £48,447 ($60,850) in costs incurred in dealing with the application by December 29. The judge also announced that a full hearing in the case would take place between May and July next year, lasting three to four days. Harry's lawyers argue that the article, which claimed there were contradictions about his willingness to pay for security himself, attacked his honesty and integrity.

On the other hand, ANL maintains that the article was an honest opinion and did not cause serious reputational damage to the prince. This case is one among several involving Harry and British newspaper groups, covering issues such as breach of privacy and illegal information-gathering. Additionally, Harry has a separate case against the UK government, in which he claims that changes to his security detail have made it unsafe for him, his wife Meghan, and their two young children to visit the UK.

The Home Office disputes this and asserts that bespoke arrangements are in place for Harry's visits from the United States, as he had resigned from royal duties and relocated in early 2020. While the legal fees Harry has been ordered to pay ANL in this case amount to £48,447, they are likely to be overshadowed by the costs involved in another lawsuit he has filed against the publisher. In that particular lawsuit, Harry is suing ANL and two other British tabloid publishers over allegations of unlawful means used to gather information about him. The legal battles with the newspaper groups shed light on the ongoing tensions between the prince and the British media.