The legal battle between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy, famously dubbed “Wagatha Christie,” concluded with a High Court ruling in July 2022 that dismissed Vardy’s libel claim on the basis that Rooney’s allegations were “substantially true.” The dispute began in October 2019 when Rooney publicly accused Vardy’s Instagram account of leaking private stories to The Sun newspaper after a months-long “sting operation.” Following the trial, Vardy was ordered to pay 90% of Rooney’s legal costs, a figure finalized in May 2025 at approximately £1.4 million. As of 2026, both women have transitioned into new ventures: Rooney has launched a successful global fashion line with Primark, while Vardy has relocated to Italy following her husband Jamie Vardy’s move to US Cremonese, documenting the transition in a new reality series.
In this authoritative guide, you will find a chronological breakdown of the investigation, the explosive High Court testimony, the 2024–2025 legal cost disputes, and the long-term impact of the case on UK defamation law and celebrity culture.
The Origin of the Dispute
The conflict began when Coleen Rooney suspected that someone within her private social circle was sharing her personal Instagram stories with the tabloid press. Between 2017 and 2019, several articles appeared in The Sun containing specific details from Rooney’s private Life.
To catch the culprit, Rooney restricted her Instagram story viewers until only one account remained: Rebekah Vardy’s. She then posted fabricated stories about gender selection treatment in Mexico and her basement flooding to see if they would be leaked.
The Famous “Reveal Post”
On October 9, 2019, Rooney shared her findings in a viral post across Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. She detailed her investigation and concluded with the iconic line: “It’s… Rebekah Vardy’s account.”
The post immediately garnered international attention and earned Rooney the nickname “Wagatha Christie.” Rebekah Vardy, who was pregnant at the time, vehemently denied the allegations and suggested her account had been hacked.
The High Court Libel Trial
Rebekah Vardy officially launched libel proceedings against Coleen Rooney in June 2020, claiming the accusation caused her severe distress and reputational damage. The trial eventually took place in May 2022 at the Royal Courts of Justice.
The seven-day hearing became a media circus, featuring testimony from both women. Rooney’s defense relied on the “truth defense,” requiring her to prove that Vardy was indeed responsible for the leaks.
Evidence and Missing Data
A significant portion of the trial focused on missing evidence, most notably a series of WhatsApp messages between Vardy and her agent, Caroline Watt. It was revealed that Watt’s phone had “accidentally” fallen into the North Sea shortly after a court order for its search.
Mrs. Justice Steyn, the presiding judge, later described the loss of this evidence as “extraordinary” and drew adverse inferences against Vardy. The judge concluded it was likely that Vardy and Watt had deliberately deleted incriminating messages.
The Final Judgment (2022)
On July 29, 2022, Mrs. Justice Steyn handed down a 75-page judgment dismissing Rebekah Vardy’s claim in its entirety. The court found that Coleen Rooney had successfully proven the “essential sting” of her allegation was true.
The judge was scathing of Vardy’s evidence, calling it “manifestly inconsistent” and “evasive.” She ruled that Vardy had actively engaged in leaking stories by directing her agent to Rooney’s private account and providing screenshots.
Public Interest Defense
While the “truth defense” was the primary reason for the win, the judge also briefly addressed the “public interest” defense. She acknowledged that Rooney’s belief in exposing the leaker was reasonable, given the repeated warnings she had issued privately.
The ruling was seen as a total vindication for Rooney’s investigative methods. For Vardy, the outcome was described by legal experts as one of the most ill-advised defamation cases in modern British history.
The Costs Battle (2024–2025)
The legal saga did not end with the 2022 verdict, as both parties spent years disputing the final bill. Rooney’s total legal costs reached over £1.8 million, more than triple her initial budget.
Vardy’s legal team challenged this amount, alleging that Rooney’s lawyers had committed misconduct by understating their costs early in the process. They also criticized specific expenses, such as stays at luxury hotels and mini-bar bills.
The 2025 Settlement
In May 2025, a specialist costs judge, Mark Whalan, brought the dispute to a close. He ruled that Vardy must pay Rooney £1.19 million for the trial costs, plus an additional £212,266 in assessment costs.
In total, the trial is estimated to have cost Rebekah Vardy over £3 million when including her own legal fees and the payments to Rooney. The judge expressed hope that this settlement marked “the end of a long and unhappy road.”
Impact on Defamation Law
The “Wagatha Christie” case is now a landmark study in UK defamation law, specifically regarding the “truth defense” under the Defamation Act 2013. It demonstrated that circumstantial evidence can be enough to prove the truth of an allegation.
The case also highlighted the risks of “litigation by social media.” While Rooney won, the judge noted that her failure to give Vardy a chance to respond before the “Reveal Post” was technically unreasonable, though it did not change the final verdict.
The “Wagatha” Trademark
In a surprising post-trial move in 2023, Rebekah Vardy successfully registered “Wagatha Christie” as a UK trademark. This gave her legal control over the phrase for use on merchandise, clothing, and broadcasting.
This move caused a “plot twist” in the narrative, as it meant Vardy could potentially profit from the very nickname used to celebrate Rooney’s victory. However, the trademark has faced several legal challenges from media companies since its registration.
Where Are They Now? (2026 Updates)
As of early 2026, both Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy have moved on to significantly different chapters of their lives. The professional and personal distance between them has grown as they have pursued interests outside of the UK media spotlight.
Coleen Rooney: Fashion and Wellness
In March 2026, Coleen launched her global apparel brand, “By Coleen,” in a landmark deal with Primark. The collection, which focuses on practical athleisure for mothers, has become one of the retailer’s fastest-selling celebrity collaborations.
She remains a prominent investor in the health supplement brand Applied Nutrition. Following her second-place finish on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! in late 2024, she is currently filming a new lifestyle series for Disney+.
Rebekah Vardy: Life in Italy
Following Jamie Vardy’s departure from Leicester City in 2025, the family relocated to Italy where Jamie signed with US Cremonese. Rebekah has leaned into this transition with a new reality show titled Vardys in Italy.
The show follows the family as they adapt to a new culture and language, effectively rebranding Rebekah as an international lifestyle personality. Despite the relocation, she continues to manage her UK business interests and her “Wagatha Christie” trademark.
Practical Information and Legal Resources
For those researching the case for academic or legal purposes, the following details provide a structured overview of the proceedings and available documentation.
- Case Name: Vardy v Rooney [2022] EWHC 2017 (QB)
- Primary Court: Royal Courts of Justice, London
- Full Judgment Access: Available via the National Archives or the Judiciary.uk website.
- Key Dates: Reveal Post (Oct 2019), Trial (May 2022), Costs Finalized (May 2025).
- Total Estimated Cost: Over £4 million across both parties.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who won the Wagatha Christie trial?
Coleen Rooney won the trial in July 2022. The judge dismissed Rebekah Vardy’s libel claim, ruling that Rooney’s accusation that Vardy leaked stories was substantially true.
How much did Rebekah Vardy have to pay Coleen Rooney?
Following a final costs ruling in May 2025, Vardy was ordered to pay Rooney approximately £1.4 million in legal costs. This was on top of Vardy’s own legal fees, which were estimated at nearly £1.5 million.
What was the “North Sea” phone incident?
During the trial, it was revealed that the phone of Vardy’s agent, Caroline Watt, fell into the North Sea shortly after the court ordered its data to be searched. The judge called this occurrence “extraordinary” and “unfortunate.”
What stories did Coleen Rooney fake to catch the leaker?
Rooney posted three key fake stories: one about gender selection treatment in Mexico, one about her basement flooding, and one about her returning to television. All three stories subsequently appeared in The Sun.
Is Wagatha Christie a trademarked term?
Yes, Rebekah Vardy trademarked the term “Wagatha Christie” in 2023. This allows her to control the commercial use of the phrase on items like clothing and in media productions.
Where does Rebekah Vardy live now?
As of 2026, Rebekah Vardy lives in Italy with her family. They moved following Jamie Vardy’s transfer to the Italian club US Cremonese in 2025.
What is Coleen Rooney’s new business venture in 2026?
In March 2026, Coleen Rooney launched a global fashion line with Primark called “By Coleen,” which focuses on affordable everyday wear and athleisure for women.
Did the judge find that Rebekah Vardy lied?
The judge, Mrs. Justice Steyn, stated that Vardy’s evidence was “manifestly inconsistent” and “evasive” on many occasions. She concluded that Vardy had likely deleted WhatsApp messages to hide evidence.
Why was the case called “Wagatha Christie”?
The name is a portmanteau of “WAG” (Wives and Girlfriends of footballers) and the famous detective novelist Agatha Christie. It was coined on Twitter to celebrate Rooney’s “whodunnit” investigation.
Can I watch a documentary about the trial?
Yes, there are several productions, including Coleen Rooney: The Real Wagatha Story on Disney+ and a dramatized version titled Vardy v Rooney: A Courtroom Drama on Channel 4.
Final Thoughts
The legal and social fallout between Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy has reached a definitive conclusion, marked by the final settlement of millions in legal fees and both women successfully rebranding themselves in disparate European markets. While the 2022 High Court victory belonged to Rooney, the years that followed saw both parties leverage the intense public interest to launch massive commercial ventures.
The final chapter of the “Wagatha Christie” courtroom saga closed in May 2025 when a specialist costs judge, Mark Whalan, finalized the financial penalties. After years of disputes over “eyebrow-raising” legal bills, Rebekah Vardy was ordered to pay Rooney approximately £1.4 million in costs. This included a £1.19 million settlement for the trial itself and an additional £212,266 in assessment costs. When combined with her own legal fees, the litigation is estimated to have cost Vardy over £3 million, leading legal experts to describe it as one of the most expensive and self-defeating defamation cases in UK history.
To Read More: Manchester Independent