Prince Harry and six well-known figures are set to take Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail, to court over alleged unlawful information gathering spanning three decades.
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The Duke of Sussex, joined by Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and others, claims the publisher used private investigators to carry out a range of illegal activities between 1993 and 2011. The trial, expected to run for nine weeks at London’s High Court, will see several claimants, including Harry, give evidence.
The case, ongoing since 2022, forms part of a broader series of legal actions Prince Harry has launched against British media outlets over privacy concerns and alleged unethical practices.
Allegations of Phone Tapping, Surveillance and Privacy Breaches
The lawsuit centres on claims that ANL employed private detectives to tap phones, bug homes and cars, and obtain sensitive personal information through deception. Lawyers for the group say the evidence uncovered shows “abhorrent criminal activity” and “gross breaches of privacy”.
ANL strongly denies the accusations, branding them “preposterous smears” and arguing the case is a “fishing expedition”.
Among the claims are the alleged impersonation of individuals to access medical records, illicit access to bank details, and payments to police officials for inside information.
High-Profile Legal Battle Led by Veteran Lawyer
The seven claimants are represented by prominent media lawyer David Sherborne, known for handling Johnny Depp’s UK libel case and the “Wagatha Christie” trial.
At a final hearing, ANL was ordered to amend parts of its opening arguments after the court ruled its allegations against the claimants’ legal team went beyond a simple credibility challenge.
How the Case Reached the High Court
ANL previously attempted to have the case dismissed, arguing the claims were brought too late under the statute of limitations. However, Mr Justice Nicklin allowed the case to proceed, stating the publisher had not dealt a “knockout blow” to any claimant’s case.
A key witness, private investigator Gavin Burrows, will provide evidence remotely after disputing the authenticity of a prior statement alleging hacking on behalf of a Mail On Sunday journalist.
Harry’s Ongoing Fight With the British Press
This trial follows several other legal victories for Prince Harry. He secured a settlement worth more than £10 million from News Group Newspapers last year and was awarded £140,600 in damages in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers over phone hacking.
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