Prince Harry Continues Legal Action Against The Sun’s Publisher
Prince Harry is proceeding with a legal claim against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, over allegations of unlawful information gathering. The case is set to go to trial in January 2025, with the Duke of Sussex being one of two remaining claimants, alongside former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson.
During a recent High Court hearing in London, Prince Harry’s legal team sought access to emails exchanged between NGN employees and Royal Household staff between January 2013 and September 2019. His barrister, David Sherborne, argued that these emails would provide crucial context about the extent of the alleged information gathering.
The prince alleges that journalists and private investigators working for NGN targeted him through illegal methods. NGN has consistently denied any unlawful activity took place at The Sun.
Mr. Justice Fancourt presided over the preliminary hearing, ultimately ruling that there was “sufficient justification” for a limited number of emails to be disclosed. While acknowledging some speculation about the documents’ relevance, the judge believed a “full picture” was necessary in the interests of justice.
The judge also expressed dissatisfaction with the slow progress of the case, stating that more work needs to be done by both parties. The anticipated trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks, with a further hearing scheduled for December.
This legal action is part of a broader series of claims against NGN. Many high-profile individuals have previously settled similar cases, including actors Sienna Miller and Hugh Grant, and former footballer Paul Gascoigne.
Hugh Grant, who previously claimed journalists had used private investigators to tap his phone and burglarize his home (allegations NGN denied), settled his case after determining that a trial would be prohibitively expensive.
An NGN spokesperson emphasized the company’s past actions, noting they published an apology in 2011 to “victims of voicemail interception” by the News of the World and have publicly committed to financial compensation. They also stated that settling claims outside of court is a common and encouraged practice.
The ongoing case highlights continued scrutiny of media practices following the phone hacking scandals that emerged in the early 2010s. Prince Harry’s pursuit of the claim suggests a commitment to holding media organizations accountable for alleged invasive and unethical information-gathering techniques.
With the trial set for January 2025, the case continues to draw significant attention, potentially offering further insights into the methods used by some media organizations in obtaining private information about public figures.
