Prince Harry is just hours away from learning the outcome of his latest legal battle against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), with new claims suggesting Sir Elton John has been quietly helping fund the Duke’s multi-million-pound case.
The 41-year-old Duke of Sussex is due to return to Britain ahead of a ruling by Justice Matthew Nicklin in London on Tuesday in the long-running lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday.
Harry is one of several high-profile figures bringing legal action against ANL, alleging the publisher engaged in widespread unlawful information gathering over many years.
Sir Elton John and his husband, David Furnish, are also claimants in the case, alongside actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, campaigner Doreen Lawrence and former Member of Parliament Simon Hughes.
The group alleges dozens of newspaper articles published between the 1990s and 2011 relied on illegally obtained information.
ANL strongly denies the allegations and maintains its reporting was obtained lawfully.
With lawyers estimating the case could cost tens of millions of pounds, royal reporter Paula Froelich has claimed Sir Elton is the one footing the bill for Harry’s legal representation.
Speaking live on her YouTube channel on Sunday, Froelich said: “The only winner out of this is going to be Harry’s lawyer, David Sherborne.”
She noted Sherborne had earned millions from previous phone-hacking litigation before questioning who would ultimately cover the enormous legal costs if Harry’s side lost.
“And who is on the hook for that? It can’t be Harry – Harry doesn’t have any money,” Froelich claimed.
“Elton John has the money.”
Froelich went on to claim the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are currently staying at Sir Elton’s luxury home in the south of France with their children, Archie and Lilibet, while awaiting the court’s decision.
“Now here’s where it gets interesting. I am hearing from several people that Harry and Meghan are holidaying in the South of France and they are staying at Elton’s house awaiting the verdict,” she said.
“By the way, the kids are there with them.”
The claims contradict earlier reports that the Montecito-based couple had been holidaying in Portugal.
Froelich also dismissed speculation the Sussexes had purchased a home there.
“They don’t own a place in Portugal. Those places start at $2 million – they don’t have that money. They don’t own a place in Portugal, and they haven’t been over there in a very long time.”
However, she acknowledged she had also heard conflicting reports suggesting relations between Prince Harry and Sir Elton may have soured because of the legal action.
“Some people are saying they’re with Elton, however others are saying there’s a massive row now with Elton – both sides are feeling wronged, and both sides are now saying, ‘Oh my god, you got me into this lawsuit’ and they’re blaming each other.”
Sir Elton has enjoyed a decades-long friendship with the royal family, built on his close bond with the late Princess Diana.
He has remained close to both Prince William and Prince Harry over the years and famously performed for Harry and Meghan at their 2018 wedding reception.
SkyNews.com.au has contacted Sussex representatives for comment.