A landmark legal battle pitting Prince Harry and six other prominent figures against one of Britain's largest media groups is intensifying, with a pre-trial hearing scheduled at London's High Court. The claimants accuse Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, and MailOnline, of a sustained campaign of unlawful information gathering spanning nearly two decades.
The Core Allegations: A Catalogue of Intrusions
The case, initially filed in 2022, alleges a shocking array of criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy perpetrated between 1993 and 2011. Lawyers for the claimants assert they have uncovered highly distressing evidence of abhorrent practices commissioned by the publisher.
The specific accusations detailed in court documents include:
- Hiring private investigators to secretly plant listening devices inside people's cars and homes.
- Commissioning individuals to eavesdrop on and record live, private telephone calls.
- Paying police officials with corrupt links to private investigators for sensitive, inside information.
- Impersonating individuals to obtain private medical records from hospitals and clinics by deception.
- Accessing personal bank accounts, credit histories, and financial transactions through illicit means.
Associated Newspapers has vehemently denied all allegations, dismissing them as preposterous smears and characterising the lawsuit as a fishing expedition by the claimants and their legal team.
The High-Profile Claimants and Legal Journey
While Prince Harry is a key figure, the lawsuit is a group litigation featuring a roster of well-known names. The other claimants are actress Elizabeth Hurley, actress Sadie Frost, music icon Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and former Liberal Democrat MP Sir Simon Hughes.
All are represented by barrister David Sherborne. The case has already navigated significant legal hurdles. In March 2023, ANL attempted to have the case struck out, arguing the claims were brought far too late and fell outside the six-year statute of limitations for privacy claims.
However, in a ruling on 10 November 2023, Mr Justice Nicklin allowed the case to proceed to a full trial, stating the publisher had not been able to deliver a 'knockout blow' to the claims. A full trial is now anticipated to begin in January.
Recent Developments and Precedents
The path to trial has been marked by further complications. Earlier this year, an attempt by the claimants to add new allegations concerning the targeting of the Princess of Wales was rejected by the judge as being brought too late.
More recently, in November, the court heard that a key witness, private investigator Gavin Burrows, claims his signature was forged on a 2021 statement that alleged widespread hacking at the request of a Mail on Sunday journalist. This statement had been a foundational piece of evidence for five of the seven claimants. It is now for Mr Sherborne to decide whether to call Mr Burrows as a witness.
This case is one of several Prince Harry has pursued against British media. His claim against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) went to trial, where he became the first senior royal in over a century to give evidence in court. He was awarded damages after the judge found his phone had been hacked. Conversely, his case against News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun, was settled before trial, with the publisher issuing an apology and paying substantial damages.
Whether the case against Associated Newspapers will proceed to a full trial in January or be settled beforehand remains to be seen, marking another critical chapter in the ongoing conflict between the Duke of Sussex and the UK press.
