A High Court judge in London has indicated that a ruling in the high-profile lawsuit involving Prince Harry, Elton John and several other public figures against the publisher of the Daily Mail will

take time to deliver.

The case, being heard at the High Court, sees the Duke of Sussex, 41, among seven claimants suing Associated Newspapers over allegations of widespread unlawful newsgathering practices. These claims span more than two decades, dating back to the early 1990s, and include accusations such as phone hacking, bugging landlines, and obtaining private information through deception.

Presiding judge Matthew Nicklin told the court on Tuesday that, following nearly 10 weeks of detailed arguments and testimony, the process of reaching a judgment would be extensive. He noted that after a short Easter break, he would dedicate himself fully to reviewing the case and preparing his ruling.

During proceedings, the court heard evidence from both the claimants and current and former senior journalists connected to Associated Newspapers, which also publishes the Mail on Sunday.

David Sherborne, representing Prince Harry and the other claimants, argued that there was a longstanding culture within the publisher’s titles that relied on private investigators to carry out unlawful activities. He warned that any confirmed wrongdoing would have serious consequences for the organization.

In contrast, Associated Newspapers has strongly denied the allegations, describing them as baseless and defamatory. Their legal representative, Antony White, told the court there was no credible evidence supporting the claims. He further argued that the witnesses presented by the claimants lacked reliability and characterized the lawsuit as an unfocused attack driven by personal grievances against the press.

The case is one of several legal battles Prince Harry has pursued against British media organizations, reflecting his broader campaign to challenge what he describes as intrusive and unethical practices within parts of the press.

A final judgment is expected at a later date. Photo by Bjørn Erik Pedersen, Wikimedia commons.