Rebekah Vardy Ordered to Pay £1.4m in Wagatha Christie Case

The long-running libel battle dubbed the "Wagatha Christie" case between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy has finally concluded with a ruling that Vardy must pay over £1.4 million in legal costs to Rooney. Rooney expressed relief and closure following the judgment, emphasizing that the case did not need to be prolonged and that the time and money spent could have been better used. The dispute originated from Rooney's 2019 Instagram post accusing Vardy's account of leaking private information to the press, a claim that was upheld by a High Court judge in 2022. While Rooney's legal costs exceeded £1.8 million, Vardy has agreed to pay £1.19 million plus additional assessment costs, although her barrister contested the proportionality of some fees. The judge acknowledged the extraordinary legal expenses on both sides and expressed hope that this would mark the end of the protracted and unhappy dispute. Both parties appear ready to move on, with Rooney thanking her support network and the public for their support throughout the ordeal.