Julian Assange has lost his appeal against extradition to the US on espionage charges.

The judgment was handed down privately on Monday at the High Court.

WikiLeaks founder Assange, 51, launched the appeal last June after then-Home Secretary Priti Patel signed an order authorizing his removal.

Yesterday his wife Stella said that he will appeal the decision. It will be Assange's last chance to overturn the ruling before his options in the UK courts are exhausted.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation said it was 'highly disappointed by the UK High Court's rejection of Julian Assange's appeal of his extradition to the United States on Espionage Act charges.'