Prince Harry’s long-running legal confrontation with Britain’s tabloid press has moved into its concluding stage, as the final round of hearings opened on Monday in London’s High Court.
The Duke of Sussex’s lawyer, David Sherborne, accused the Daily Mail and its sister publication of carrying out what he described as a “clear, systematic and sustained” campaign of unlawful information-gathering that spanned two decades. He alleged that a deeply rooted culture of employing private investigators to engage in covert surveillance had left Harry feeling distressed, isolated and under constant scrutiny.
According to Sherborne’s written opening statement, Harry said it was “disturbing” to believe that his movements, thoughts and emotions were being tracked purely for profit. The lawyer added that the alleged intrusions were “terrifying” for Harry’s loved ones, placed enormous strain on his relationships, and fostered deep mistrust and suspicion that made him feel “paranoid beyond belief.”
The case involves claims worth tens of millions of dollars, with Harry joined by high-profile co-claimants including musician Elton John and actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost. They allege that the publisher of the Mail hired private investigators to bug vehicles, access private records and intercept phone communications.
Associated Newspapers Ltd., which owns the Daily Mail, has strongly denied the accusations, branding them baseless and insisting that the stories in question were sourced legitimately, including from associates who were willing to share information about their famous friends.
The trial is expected to run for nine weeks and will see Harry return to the witness stand on Thursday, marking his second courtroom appearance since 2023, when he became the first senior royal in more than a century to testify in court.
On Monday, Harry arrived wearing a dark blue suit and waved cheerfully at reporters as he entered through a side entrance. He sat in the back row near Hurley and Frost, while Elton John followed proceedings online.
This High Court case follows two earlier lawsuits Harry brought against other major tabloids linked to the historic phone-hacking scandal. In 2023, he secured a ruling condemning the Daily Mirror’s publisher for “widespread and habitual” voicemail interception. Last year, Rupert Murdoch’s leading U.K. tabloid issued a rare apology for years of intrusion into Harry’s life and agreed to pay substantial damages to settle his privacy case.
