ROYAL FAMILY
Prince Harry makes unexpected appearance at UK High Court
The Duke of Sussex arrived at the High Court in London for the hearing of his case against the Daily Mail.
Prince Harry made a surprise appearance at the London High Court Monday for his and the Duchess of Sussex’ case against publishers at the Daily Mail. Sir Elton John, also a claimant in the case, arrived later in the day to see the proceedings.
Prince Harry watched the proceedings closely, wearing a dark suit, tie and crisp white shirt, as he took notes from the second row behind the lawyers.
The four-day hearing will examine the legal case the Sussexes have made against the Daily Mail affiliate publisher, Associated Newspapers Ltd. (ANL).
Associated Newspapers are arguing for a dismissal on the grounds that they are “preposterous smears,” according to the BBC.
The hearing will assess legal arguments from either side, and the judge will rule whether the case will go to trial.
What is Prince Harry’s legal case about?
The legal case, announced in October 2022, was made by Prince Harry, along with other prominent celebrities, including actress Elizabeth Hurley, musician Elton John, who arrived at lunchtime, and his partner David Furnish, and Sadie Frost, who is Jude Law’s ex-wife and was also present at the hearing.
The other claimants in the case are Baroness Doreen Lawrence, who is the mother of Stephen Lawrence, a young man who was a victim in an alleged race-based attack, and Sir Simon Hughes, who is a Liberal Party politician. Hughes was previously a UK government minister.
The claimants are suing ANL, which is the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail, for illegal information gathering.
Specifics of Prince Harry’s legal case
The prince’s lawyers claim he and the seven other individuals are distressed victims of criminal activity at the hands of Associated Newspapers, alleging unlawful practices such as the “hiring of private investigators to secretly place listening devices inside people’s cars and homes,” and the “commissioning of individuals to surreptitiously listen into and record people’s live, private telephone calls whilst they were taking place.”
“The payment of police officials, with corrupt links to private investigators, for inside, sensitive information,” the legal team continued. “The impersonation of individuals to obtain medical information from private hospitals, clinics, and treatment centers by deception,” and the “accessing of bank accounts, credit histories and financial transactions through illicit means and manipulation.”
“[The defendants have] become aware of compelling and highly distressing evidence that they have been the victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy by Associated Newspapers,” the legal team argued.