Archive · 21 Jan 2026
Prince Harry Sues Mail Over Privacy Violations
Prince Harry and six other famous people are suing a big newspaper company in London.
They say the company's journalists did bad things like hacking phones and stealing private information to write stories about them.
The company says they didn't do anything wrong and that they got their information from legal sources.
The trial is going to last nine weeks and is very important because it could change how newspapers get information in the future.
Prince Harry has been fighting against the media for a long time because he wants to protect people's privacy.
He says he is not friends with any journalists and that the company is trying to play dirty tricks by changing the schedule.
Prince Harry and six other claimants are suing Associated Newspapers Limited for alleged privacy violations.
Allegations include hacking voicemails, bugging landlines, and obtaining private information by deception.
The trial focuses on 14 articles published between the early 1990s and the 2010s, with ANL strongly denying the claims.
ANL argues that the claims should be dismissed due to a six-year statute of limitations and denies using illegal means to obtain information.
Prince Harry sees this as a personal crusade to change the media landscape and protect privacy.
- Who
- Prince Harry and six other high-profile individuals
- What
- Suing Associated Newspapers Limited for alleged privacy violations
- When
- Trial ongoing, started January 2025
- Where
- High Court in London
- Why
- Allegations of hacking, bugging, and obtaining private information unlawfully
Claimants
Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)
Source of Information
Claimants
Journalists used unlawful methods like hacking voicemails, bugging landlines, and deception to obtain private information.
Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)
Journalists had legitimate sources, including friends and acquaintances of the celebrities, and public statements from royal press officers.
Statute of Limitations
Claimants
The claims are valid as they highlight a pattern of sustained unlawful information gathering.
Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)
The claims should be dismissed due to a six-year statute of limitations.
Social Circle Leakage
Claimants
The claimants deny that their social circles were 'leaky' and assert that journalists used illegal means to gather information.
Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)
Harry's social circle was known to be 'leaky', and some articles were based on public statements.
- Claimants
- Prince Harry, Elton John, David Furnish, Liz Hurley, Sadie Frost, Doreen Lawrence, Simon Hughes
- Defendant
- Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL)
- Allegations
- Hacking voicemails, bugging landlines, obtaining private information by deception
- Time Period
- Early 1990s to 2010s
- Trial Duration
- Nine weeks
- Estimated Cost
- £40 million
- Harry's Previous Legal Actions
- Won 15 claims against Mirror Group Newspapers, settled with The Sun
Sources
Prince Harry’s court battle with ‘highly intrusive’ press
Prince Harry targeted for standing up to UK newspaper, his lawyer says
Prince Harry appears in witness box to start evidence against Daily Mail publisher
Prince Harry says journalists were not his friends in evidence against Daily Mail publisher
Prince Harry In Witness Box To Start Evidence Against Daily Mail Publisher
Prince Harry rejects claims friends were source of Daily Mail stories
Prince Harry holds back tears as he says Daily Mail made wife Meghan’s life a misery
Prince Harry Says Daily Mail Made Meghan Markle’s Life A “Misery” As He Becomes Visibly Emotional In Court