A new trial begins in London today, Monday, as part of Prince Harry’s battle against tabloid newspapers. The younger son of King Charles III is suing the publisher of the ‘Daily Mail’, accusing it of using illegal methods to gather information about his private life.
Prince Harry, who resides in California, USA, with his wife Meghan and their two children, is expected to be present at the High Court in Britain for the opening session of the trial dedicated to this lawsuit.
The court schedule indicates that Prince Harry will give his testimony on Thursday, as he did in 2023 in his lawsuit against MGN, the publisher of the ‘Daily Mirror’. At that time, he became the first member of the British royal family to testify as a witness in a trial in over a hundred years.
Celebrities Sue English Media Outlets
In addition to Prince Harry, six others are suing Associated Newspapers Limited, the publisher of the ‘Daily Mail’ and ‘Mail on Sunday’. The most prominent plaintiffs include singer Elton John and his husband David Furnish, as well as actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost.
They accuse Associated Newspapers Limited of having, particularly between 1993 and 2011, planted listening devices in their cars and homes, intercepted their phone conversations using private investigators it hired, and bribed police officers to obtain confidential information about the plaintiffs.
However, the media group “strongly” denies these allegations. The trial is scheduled to last nine weeks.
Harry Wages War on Tabloids
Prince Harry is waging a war on tabloids, holding them responsible for the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in a 1997 car accident in Paris while she was being pursued by paparazzi.
In 2023, the Prince secured a ruling against the publisher of the ‘Daily Mirror’ regarding articles based on phone hacking. The London High Court at that time ordered MGN to pay him £140,600 (approximately $189,000) in damages.
A year ago, Harry reached a settlement with News Group Newspapers, the publisher of the popular tabloid ‘The Sun’, owned by media mogul Rupert Murdoch. As part of the settlement, the publisher apologized for hacking his phone and agreed to pay him “substantial damages”, avoiding a trial that would have lasted weeks.
It is not expected that Prince Harry will meet his father, King Charles, during his stay in Britain, as the King will be in Scotland. A brief meeting took place between them last September, which was the first in a year and a half. The Duke of Sussex stepped back from his royal duties and left with his family in 2020 to live in the United States.
London
London is the capital of the United Kingdom, founded as a Roman settlement called Londinium nearly 2,000 years ago. It has since grown into a major global city, historically serving as the centre of the British Empire and evolving into a leading hub for finance, culture, and politics.
California
California is a state on the west coast of the United States, originally inhabited by numerous Native American tribes before becoming a Spanish colony and later part of Mexico. It was annexed by the U.S. in 1848, the same year the Gold Rush sparked a massive population boom and rapid development. Today, it is known globally for its diverse culture, technological innovation centered in Silicon Valley, and significant agricultural and entertainment industries.
USA
The United States of America is a federal republic founded in 1776 after declaring independence from Great Britain. Its history is marked by westward expansion, industrialization, and its emergence as a global superpower in the 20th century. The nation is defined by its diverse population, democratic institutions, and significant cultural influence worldwide.
High Court
The High Court of Australia is the nation’s highest court, established in 1903 under the Australian Constitution. It serves as the final court of appeal and has the authority to interpret and apply the law of Australia, including the power of judicial review over legislation.
Britain
Britain is a sovereign island nation in northwestern Europe with a rich history spanning thousands of years, from ancient Celtic tribes and Roman occupation to its rise as a global empire and its modern status as a constitutional monarchy. Its cultural landscape is defined by historic institutions like Parliament, iconic landmarks such as Stonehenge and the Tower of London, and its profound global influence in language, law, and politics.
Daily Mail
The Daily Mail is a British daily newspaper founded in 1896 by Alfred Harmsworth. It is known for its conservative editorial stance and has historically been influential in shaping middle-class public opinion in the United Kingdom.
Mail on Sunday
The Mail on Sunday is a British conservative-leaning newspaper first published in 1982, making it the youngest of the UK’s major Sunday newspapers. It was established by the Daily Mail and General Trust as a sister publication to the daily Daily Mail, sharing its editorial perspective and targeting a similar middle-market readership.
Associated Newspapers Limited
Associated Newspapers Limited is a British newspaper publisher founded in 1905, best known for producing the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday. It has been a significant and often controversial influence in UK media, with a history of shaping public opinion through its popular conservative-leaning publications.
MGN
MGN refers to the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial, a prominent cultural site located in Kanyakumari, India. It was built in 1956 in honor of Mahatma Gandhi, with its central design feature being that sunlight falls exactly on the spot where his ashes were kept before immersion on October 2nd, his birth anniversary. The memorial stands on the site where a portion of his ashes were displayed for public homage before being scattered in the sea.
Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid newspaper founded in 1903, originally aimed at a female readership before shifting to a left-leaning, populist focus. It gained prominence for its accessible style and became known for its strong editorial stances, particularly during World War II and in its support for the Labour Party.
Paris
Paris is the capital of France, historically founded as a Gallo-Roman settlement in the 3rd century BC. It later evolved into a major European center of art, philosophy, and politics, famously symbolized by landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum.
The Sun
“The Sun” is a British tabloid newspaper founded in 1964, originally as a broadsheet before relaunching in its current tabloid format in 1969. It is known for its populist style and has been one of the highest-circulation newspapers in the United Kingdom throughout much of its history.
Scotland
Scotland is a country within the United Kingdom with a rich history dating back to ancient times, including the Picts and Gaels, and was an independent kingdom until the 1707 Act of Union with England. It is renowned for its distinct cultural traditions, such as Highland games, tartan, and bagpipes, as well as historic landmarks like Edinburgh Castle and the ruins of Stirling Castle.
United States
The United States is a federal republic founded in 1776 following the American Revolution, which established its independence from Great Britain. Its modern identity was shaped by westward expansion, a civil war over slavery, and its emergence as a global superpower in the 20th century.
