Prince Harry, alongside other prominent British figures, will see their privacy lawsuits against the publisher of the Daily Mail go to trial in early 2026, London's High Court confirmed on Tuesday.
Legal costs for the case are expected to surpass £38 million ($47.8 million).
The lawsuits, which target Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, allege voicemail interception (commonly known as phone-hacking) and other serious privacy violations spanning the past three decades. Harry, the younger son of King Charles, is among seven claimants in the case, including singer Elton John and actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost.
Associated Newspapers has consistently denied engaging in unlawful activities. During a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, the publisher's lawyers reiterated that the claims are “firmly denied.” Despite its attempts to have the lawsuits dismissed, a ruling last year allowed the cases to proceed to trial.
Legal filings revealed the claimants anticipate spending approximately £18.4 million in legal fees leading up to and during the trial. Associated Newspapers is projected to incur close to £20 million in costs. Both parties have agreed on an early 2026 trial date.
These lawsuits, filed in 2022, mark the first time Associated Newspapers has been drawn into the phone-hacking scandal that shook the British media landscape over a decade ago. The scandal prompted a public inquiry into press ethics and led to multiple criminal trials. It also spurred extensive litigation against Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers and the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).
Harry's Legal Battles
Prince Harry’s ongoing legal actions are part of his broader campaign to challenge media practices he deems unethical. He has accused certain media executives and editors of spreading falsehoods and invading personal privacy.
In a separate case, Harry recently accepted substantial damages from MGN, including £140,600 ($178,000), after the High Court found journalists targeted him in a phone-hacking scheme. Meanwhile, his lawsuit against News Group Newspapers is set to go to trial in January 2024.
This trial against Associated Newspapers is yet another chapter in Harry’s fight against media intrusion, a mission he has described as critical to holding the press accountable for its actions. Photo by Alex.muller, Wikimedia commons.