Prince Harry has arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice ahead of a hearing over allegations against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
The Daily Mail publisher is facing claims against it brought by the Duke of Essex, Sir Elton Jon, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and others over unlawful information-gathering at its titles. The group of high profile individuals, including access Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost, announced in October that they wold bring claims for misuse of private information against ANL.
Their lawyers stated at the time that the group alleged they 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 ANL. Some of the allegations include hiring private investigators to secretly place listening devices inside cars and homes as well as recording private phone conversations.
ANL, which also publishes The Mail On Sunday and MailOnline, has denied the allegations, describing them as "preposterous smears" and a "pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal". A spokesperson for ANL added that the allegations were "unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims, based on no credible evidence".
Today marks the start of four-day hearing in London which will include ANL's bid for the claims to be dismissed without a trial. It is the first time ANL has had claims of unlawful activity in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal brought against it.
It is understood that the hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin will start at 10.30am.
This is not the only legal battle that the Duke of Sussex has taken up against ANL. He has an ongoing libel case against the publisher over an article about his security arrangement in the Mail On Sunday.
He also has an ongoing legal dispute against the Home Office over similar protection issues.
Read next:
GMP to recruit 264 more neighbourhood officers but will lose 300 PCSO roles
Greater Manchester Foodhall announces closure after 'unprecedented' rise in costs
'I thought it was an earthquake': Neighbour on moment building COLLAPSED as he watched TV
Cannabis farm discovered after major road cordoned off in Chorlton during fire
