Prince Harry is among a group of high-profile individuals, including Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, bringing legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Prince Harry’s privacy case against the Mail publishers is being heard at the High Court today (Image: Getty)
Prince Harry’s High Court claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail is expected to go to trial in 2026, a High Court judge suggested this morning.
The Duke of Sussex, 40, is one of a group of high-profile individuals, including Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, and politician Sir Simon Hughes, bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
They have accused the publisher of carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, “blagging” private records, burglaries to order, and accessing and recording private phone conversations.
ANL firmly denies the allegations and is defending the legal action, claiming the allegations are “lurid” and “simply preposterous”.
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At a preliminary hearing on Tuesday, which was attended by Lady Lawrence, judge Mr Justice Nicklin was told that the costs of the legal claim brought by the group of individuals are budgeted for a total of more than £38million.
In written submissions, David Sherborne, for the group of individuals, said their current cost budget is £18,399,428.84, including incurred costs of £3,890,120.02.
Mr Sherborne added that ANL’s budgeted costs are £19,850,282.40, including incurred costs of £8,125,380.40.
Elsewhere in the hearing, Mr Justice Nicklin said that it was important to progress the case to an eventual trial.
He said: “My broad objective is we fix a trial date … It will probably start on January 14, 2026.”
The judge continued that the date may change and repeated that it was an “objective”.
Harry has accused the publisher of targeting him and the people closest to him by unlawfully hacking voicemails, tapping landlines, obtaining itemized phone bills and the flight information of his then-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy.
ANL had attempted to throw the case out, arguing it had been brought “far too late”.
But in a ruling last November, the judge said the public had failed to deliver a “knockout blow” to the challenges, allowing them to continue.
Harry attended the Royal Courts of Justice in London last March, when a preliminary hearing for the case was held.
His lawyers argued that those bringing legal action were “thrown off the scent” and not aware of being targeted, having believed “categorical denials” from ANL over any involvement in unlawful activity.
Sir Elton, Ms Frost and Lady Lawrence also attended the London court during the preliminary hearing.
The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin started today and is expected to last two days.
