Prince Harry, alongside six other prominent figures, is set to appear at the High Court as their legal claims against the publisher of the Daily Mail are scheduled to be heard. The group, which includes Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, is accusing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) of phone hacking and unlawful information gathering.
The claimants allege that ANL carried out or commissioned illegal activities, including hiring private investigators to place listening devices in vehicles, “blagging” private records, and accessing private phone conversations. According to their lawyer, David Sherborne, the alleged acts also involved intercepting live landline calls and obtaining sensitive medical records.
The trial, expected to last nine weeks, will see Prince Harry give testimony, while several journalists and editors, including former Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, are also set to appear in court. Harry has previously taken legal action against other publishers over similar allegations, including a successful 2023 case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.
ANL, which publishes both the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, has firmly denied any wrongdoing. The case is now poised to become one of the most closely watched legal battles involving press conduct in recent years.
