The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in London today, marking the start of a highly anticipated legal showdown. He is one of seven high-profile claimants taking the publisher of the Daily Mail to court over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
What is the Privacy Case About?
The group, which includes Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, alleges that Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) engaged in a range of illegal activities. These claims, which ANL strongly denies, include hiring private investigators to place listening devices in cars, illegally obtaining private records through deception (known as 'blagging'), and intercepting private phone calls.
The legal action was first filed in October 2022 and has seen numerous preparatory hearings. The trial itself is expected to last for nine weeks, with all claimants scheduled to provide evidence. Prince Harry, who reportedly flew into the UK yesterday, is due to enter the witness box on Thursday.
Key Legal Rulings and Case Background
Mr Justice Nicklin, the judge overseeing the case, has already made several significant rulings. In November 2023, he rejected ANL's attempt to have the claims thrown out before trial, stating the publisher had not delivered a 'knockout blow' to the allegations.
The court has also heard intriguing details during pre-trial hearings. Last October, it was suggested that information about the Prince of Wales's 21st birthday party may have been 'blagged' for a Daily Mail story. Furthermore, in November 2024, the court learned that Baroness Lawrence was first alerted to the potential claim via a text message from Prince Harry.
A major point of contention has been the use of documents from the Leveson Inquiry. Initially, the judge ruled they could not be used without government approval. However, in March 2024, ministers authorised the disclosure of confidential Leveson documents concerning the Daily Mail's records of payments to private investigators.
The Trial Process and What Happens Next
The trial commenced today with opening statements from both legal teams. The process will see each claimant's case presented alongside their supporting witnesses, before ANL presents its defence. The publisher's legal team is expected to call several witnesses, including former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre.
Following the conclusion of evidence and final arguments, Mr Justice Nicklin will deliver a written judgment at a later date. The outcome of this case is being closely watched, as it represents one of the most significant collective actions against a newspaper publisher in recent years concerning allegations of privacy invasion and unlawful information gathering.
