Mail on Sunday case is not Prince Harry's priority - but withdrawing libel claim still a blow to Team Sussex
Harry is liable to foot the bill for both sides' legal costs which will be hundreds of thousands of pounds. He can afford it, but he's taken on a tabloid and lost, and that will stick in the craw of the prince who once vowed to make changing the media landscape his "life's work".
Friday 19 January 2024 18:23, UK
Any legal loss for Prince Harry will hurt, but this case is perhaps less of a priority than his others.
That said, it's still a blow for Team Sussex, who have spent a lot of time and money on this litigation.
It's all about Harry's long-running legal fight with the Home Office and the decision to remove his automatic security.
Harry claimed the Mail on Sunday article about his case was an attack on his honesty and integrity. The Mail on Sunday argued it was "honest opinion". And to that end a judge agreed. That's why last year Harry was ordered to pay the publisher over £48,000.
It was a major turning point for the case. And now, the news the Duke of Sussex has decided to pull the plug on this litigation.
It's going to be costly. Harry is liable to foot the bill for both sides' legal costs which will be hundreds of thousands of pounds.
He can of course afford it, but there is a personal cost to this too. He's taken on a tabloid and lost, and that will stick in the craw of the prince who once vowed to make changing the media landscape his "life's work".
This is by no means the end of Harry's name on High Court papers.
He still has three ongoing cases.
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What other legal challenges has Harry brought?
Firstly there's his case against the Home Office. Most of this was heard in private at the end of 2023. We did though hear how Harry and Meghan "felt forced" to leave the UK, a decision taken with "great sadness".
And then of course, we have Harry's two remaining privacy cases against the publishers of The Sun and The Daily Mail. He's already won his phone hacking case against the Mirror, but it will be months if not years before these come to a trial.
They are the cases which really matter to Prince Harry.
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That's why dropping this libel case won't leave him reeling. But it certainly isn't the start to 2024 he'd have wanted.
Harry and Meghan spent a lot of time last year telling and selling their "truth". This year is a chance for them to show the world they have a positive plan for the future, and to prove they can use their privileged positions for good.