An emotional Prince Harry appeared on the verge of tears as he concluded his evidence by telling the High Court: “They have made my wife’s life an absolute misery, my Lord.”
The Duke of Sussex said he began to consider taking legal action against media intrusion after his relationship with Meghan Markle began in 2016.
In written evidence, he said: “I started to become increasingly troubled by the approach of not taking action against the press in the wake of vicious persistent attacks on, harassment of and intrusive, sometimes racist articles concerning Meghan.”
Earlier, he said his ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was left “shaken” by the constant intrusion into their lives by the media, and that he was “really worried something bad was going to happen”.
This included journalists at Associated Newspapers Limited knowing their holiday plans, intimate details about their sleeping arrangements and conversations within their relationship.
The Duke of Sussex, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
ANL has denied the accusations, with the trial set to continue over nine weeks.
Key Points
- Ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy found press intrusion 'terrifying', Harry says
- Prince Harry couldn't complain about articles due to 'institution' he was in
- Duke's relationship with presenter broke down due to 'distrust', court told
- ANL 'resort to game playing and dirty tricks' by pulling schedule forward, Harry source claims
- Duke of Sussex faced ‘campaign of attacks’ for standing up to Mail publisher, court told
Seven key moments from court
15:17 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex began giving evidence in the trial of his legal claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail on Wednesday.
Giving evidence on the third day of the trial, Prince Harry, 41, said he did not complain about some of the 14 articles at the heart of his claim due to the “institution I was in”.
Here are some of the key moments from his evidence:
Seven key moments from court during Harry’s evidence against Mail publisher
Duke describes ANL's defence as a 'recurring traumatic experience'
15:06 , Holly EvansAsked how he felt about how ANL was defending his claim, the Duke of Sussex replied: “Not great. A repeat of the past. A recurring traumatic experience.
“I have never believed that my life is open season to be commercialised by these people.”
The duke continued that he “fundamentally” rejected the idea that “in order for the media to act in the public interest, it is the media’s job to interest the public”.
He continued: “It would be controlling the public interest for commercial benefit.”
The duke told the court the newspapers were “in competition with each other, and now they are all in cahoots with each other”.
He added to “sit here and go through this all again” and for ANL to “claim that I don’t have any rights to any privacy, it’s disgusting”.
Trial adjourned until Thursday
14:43 , Holly EvansThe trial has been adjourned to 10.30am on Thursday after the Duke of Sussex finished giving evidence at the High Court into his legal claim against Associated Newspapers Limited.
Barrister David Sherborne, for the group of high-profile figures suing the publisher, said they were “not in a position to have anyone else ready” to give evidence on Wednesday.
Harry gets emotional: 'They have made my wife's life a misery'
14:39 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex appeared on the verge of tears as he concluded his evidence at the High Court by saying: “They have made my wife’s life an absolute misery, my Lord.”
He has now left the witness box after questioning concluded.
ANL lawyer finishes questioning Prince Harry
14:35 , Holly EvansAntony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, has finished questioning the Duke of Sussex in cross examination.
David Sherborne, for Harry and the six others bringing legal action against the Daily Mail publisher, is now asking the duke questions in his re-examination.
Duke didn't contact Hacked Off due to being part of royal family
14:33 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex said he only learnt of the campaign group Hacked Off “in the last four or five years”.
Replying to questions by Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, Harry said: “I happen to think they do fantastic work, Mr White.”
Mr White replied: “I am pleased to hear it.”
The barrister also said that if Harry wanted to inquire about the 14 articles complained of in the case, “an obvious inquiry or port of inquiry would have been Hacked Off to see what support they could give you”.
Harry replied that he didn’t think “that would have been acceptable or even an option” due to being part of the royal family.
Duke says he didn't question phone hacking denials 'out of fear of retaliation'
14:24 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has said that he did not question denials of phone hacking made by Paul Dacre at the Leveson Inquiry “out of fear of retaliation”.
In his witness statement, Harry said: “I do not see why Associated should get away with something they have covered up and lied about for however many years.
“I simply do not understand how I could have discovered that I had these claims against Associated for the unlawful acts I am claiming about any earlier than I did, especially as current senior figures at Associated lied all those years ago, which everyone believed.
“I remember Paul Dacre, in particular, clearly stating that phone hacking had not taken place at Associated.
“By going on the offensive, rather than the defensive, they had me so convinced that I didn’t even think twice about it, nor did I dare question Paul Dacre out of fear of retaliation.
“The advantage they had was that their approach appeared more belligerent than the rest; ‘if you dare take us on, we will destroy your life’ kind of approach. I don’t think it left anyone with any other option other than to believe Associated and accept they must be telling the truth.”
Duke of Sussex said 'bubble burst' on phone hacking after moving to the U.S.
14:15 , Holly EvansIn his written evidence, the Duke of Sussex said that the “bubble burst” after he stepped down as a working senior royal in 2020 and moved to North America.
Describing claims against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World, Harry said: “It was only really within the past few years that I found out that other individuals within or associated with the Institution, such as my friend Marko, had brought phone hacking claims against NGN.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that the bubble burst in terms of what I knew in 2020 when I moved out of the United Kingdom.”
He continued: “To this day, there are members of the Royal Family and friends of mine who may have been targeted by NGN and I have no idea whether they have or have not brought claims.”
Article about his ex-girlfriend's NYE plans was 'creepy', Harry says
14:12 , Holly EvansIn his written evidence, the Duke of Sussex described a Daily Mail article from 2013, which stated he “faces a lonely New Year’s Eve” as “creepy”.
He said: “Associated published this article about my relationship with Cressida Bonas, including information about our whereabouts and plans.
“The headline speaks to exactly how they wanted me to be: lonely, miserable, depressed.
“Again, this article is creepy. Kensington Palace should not be talking about private matters, but just because someone said Cressida’s not coming for Christmas, how did they know she was on Richard Branson’s island?
“It’s a horrible existence for a young girl to be stalked like this – they probably tracked Cressida or blagged information about her flight, and would have had her under surveillance like they did my other girlfriends.”
'I am not friends with any of these journalists,' Harry says
14:07 , Holly EvansAntony White KC, for ANL, asked the Duke of Sussex about phone conversations he had with Rebecca English, now royal editor at the Daily Mail, during which he allegedly thanked her.
Harry said he had no recollection of the calls, but that journalists were people who “we were forced to work with, we had to have some kind of relationship with them”.
He added that he was “forced to perform” for reporters, sometimes at royal engagements, “knowing who they are and knowing full well the kind of stories they had written about me and how they have commercialised my private life”.
Harry, who took notes and occasionally sipped from a bottle of water while giving evidence, also said: “Yes, if there was an opportunity to befriend, through official channels, to be able to say ‘thank you’ or ‘are you ok?’, one would hope that would go a long way.”
The duke also said that he thought the job of journalists was to “get stuff out of my friends”, earlier saying: “I am not friends with any of these journalists, and never have been.”
Court resumes after lunch break
14:06 , Holly EvansPrince Harry has returned to the witness box to continue being cross-examined by the ANL lawyer Antony White KC.
Why is Prince Harry in court with the Daily Mail’s publisher?
13:50 , Holly EvansThe trial of claims brought by the Duke of Sussex and several other high-profile figures against the publisher of the Daily Mail over allegations of unlawful information gathering began on Monday.
Harry, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all taking action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
The group claims that the publisher carried out or commissioned unlawful activities such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, “blagging” private records and accessing private phone conversations.
Read the full article here:
Why is Prince Harry suing the Daily Mail and which other celebrities are involved?
Timeline of key events as high-stakes Prince Harry privacy trial continues
13:30 , Holly Evans
Timeline of key events as Prince Harry phone hacking trial continues
'It feels creepy like you're constantly being watched,' Duke says
13:20 , Holly EvansDiscussing a Mail On Sunday article from October 2011, Harry said in his written evidence that the information in the story would have only been known by himself, Ms Davy and their close friends.
He continued: “It feels creepy, like you’re constantly being watched, and you can’t trust anyone around you.
“It feels like every aspect of your life behind closed doors is being displayed to the world for amusement, entertainment and money.”
Court breaks for lunch
13:09 , Holly EvansThe hearing has finished for lunch break and will resume at 2pm.
Prince Harry claims he was under '24-hour surveillance'
13:08 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has said he “fundamentally” rejects the suggestion that “any co-existing with anybody means I have no private life”.
Harry also claimed that Paul Dacre, the former editor of the Daily Mail, “has been very good” at claiming that articles were in the public interest, and said Mr Dacre had “turned it into a business model”.
Mr Justice Nicklin then said that witnesses “feel a particular pressure to make their point and to argue the point”, but continued: “You don’t have to do that, you just need to answer the questions.”
Harry responded that Associated Newspapers Limited “have done a very good job of stripping out all the colour from the situations the claimants have been in”, that he had been under “24-hour surveillance” and that “people write about you claiming it is in the public interest when it clearly isn’t”.
Mr Justice Nicklin said: “The careful balance between the public interest and the interference with privacy rights is one I have spent a career dealing with.”
Harry responded: “I just want you to have an idea of what it is like living in this world.”
'Beyond cruel' to publish conversation between brothers of Diana dying, Harry claims
13:06 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has claimed it was “beyond cruel” to publish an article about “confidential discussions” he had after a photo of a dying Diana, Princess of Wales was published in the Italian press.
In his written evidence, Harry described an article published in the Daily Mail in July 2006 as “really disgusting”, saying he was having private discussions with his brother, the now-Prince of Wales.
Harry said in his witness statement: “If Associated was willing to publish this type of material, then it really makes me wonder how far they are prepared to go and what else they learnt but never published because they would get caught.
“The amount of information and detail in this article would not have come from Clarence House; they were plainly listening in to calls as well as spending large sums on private investigators.
“To do that is simply shameful but to publish it I feel is beyond cruel and an abuse of journalistic privilege which I find extremely upsetting.”
'A lot more' would be published if friends had betrayed his confidence, Harry argues
12:59 , Holly EvansThere “would be a lot more out there” if three people who the Duke of Sussex described as some of his “closest friends” had decided to speak to the press, the High Court has heard.
Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, suggested to Harry that comments from the duke of him talking about being in love with Chelsy Davy while at a campfire in Botswana could only have become known to Mail journalists if someone had told them.
Harry said the information was more likely picked up when he “talked about it on a voicemail” or other communication.
He added: “The quote is being attributed to three strangers. You are now trying to suggest that these three strangers are some of my closest friends. That does not add up.”
He continued: “These three people have never shared anything with anybody. If they had, there would be a lot more out there.”
Ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy found press intrusion 'terrifying', Harry says
12:50 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has said in his written evidence that he was “really worried something bad was going to happen” when he was in a relationship with Chelsy Davy.
Describing a surprise visit to Argentina by Ms Davy, Harry said in his written evidence that he “suspected someone had been paid to reveal our plans”.
He continued: “I was never suspicious of Chelsy in relation to stories like this but I was of her friends. If I saw this story at the time, I would have been very frustrated and angry.
“I would have questioned how Associated found out this information. But, at the same time, I would have felt like I had to accept this as the reality of my life.
“This sort of intrusion was terrifying for Chelsy: it made her feel like she was being hunted and the press had caught her and it was terrifying for me too because therewas nothing I could do to stop it and now she was in my world.
“She was ‘shaken’ and I was really paranoid about trying to protect our privacy, as the article says.
“Their behaviour and treatment of Chelsy was not normal. I was really worried something bad was going to happen.”
Prince Harry says those dating him would experience 'full blown harassment'
12:45 , Holly EvansHarry said he “always expected” to be followed when travelling.
He said in his written evidence: “If someone was dating me, they might assume that they would be photographed coming out of a restaurant or a concert but you would never expect to experience full blown harassment.
“Whenever I got on a plane, or in a car, I always expected I was being followed. I was under 24-hour surveillance.
“Because of my position as a member of the Royal Family, both my security team and I always had security concerns even before I had arrived at a location because of how often the press knew about our every movement, sometimes hiding at a location before we even got there.
“The security risk was particularly great when we were abroad and could not always rely on police assistance.”
“However, despite feeling like I was under constant surveillance I knew nothing of Associated’s unlawful acts that were directed at me and those around me.
“Clearly much of what was happening to me and others around me was due to that.”
'My social circles were not leaky,' Harry says
12:43 , Holly EvansPrince Harry has denied his social circles were “leaky” when questioned by ANL’s lawyer.
He said: “My social circles were not leaky, I want to make that absolutely clear.”
He added that if he became suspicious of someone, “I would have to cut contact with this person”.
Mail would have used UIG to beat competitors 'to the punch', Harry claims
12:40 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has said he “can’t believe for a second” that if journalists for Associated Newspapers Limited saw rival reporters using unlawful information gathering (UIG) then they would do the same.
Speaking about a wedding in Jamaica where he said two journalists from The Sun had checked into a hotel two days before he arrived, he said: “I would certainly assume that the knowledge of us going to this wedding was found through UIG.
“I can’t believe for a second that if your competitor is using UIG then you would not too, to beat them to the punch.”
Harry denies using Facebook profile named 'Mr Mischief' to contact a journalist
12:38 , Holly EvansAntony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, claimed while cross-examining the Duke of Sussex that Harry used a Facebook profile named “Mr Mischief” to contact a Mail On Sunday journalist.
Mr White was asking Harry whether he had met Charlotte Griffiths, who the barrister claimed moved in the duke’s “social circles”.
Harry said he had “no idea that she was a journalist” when they met over a weekend in 2011, but Mr White said that Ms Griffiths claimed they met in Ibiza.
The duke said: “I don’t think that can be right. I don’t believe I have ever been to Ibiza other than with my now wife (the Duchess of Sussex).”
Mr White then claimed that Harry used the Facebook profile named “Mr Mischief” to communicate with Ms Griffiths, suggesting that the duke “exchanged friendly messages” and his mobile number with her on social media.
Harry said he had “never used the name Mr Mischief”, and that he had “no idea” if he had exchanged messages with Ms Griffiths on Facebook.
Duke's relationship with presenter broke down due to 'distrust', court told
12:35 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has claimed that “knowingly false” information was added to Daily Mail and Mail On Sunday stories “in order to put me off the scent”.
He said in his witness statement: “It is disturbing to feel that my every move, thought or feeling was being tracked and monitored just for the Mail to make money out of it.
“And that knowingly false information was added to their stories in order to put me off the scent.”
Harry described that his relationship with presenter Natalie Pinkham “broke down precisely because of the distrust and it led to me not speaking to her for years”.
He continued: “It seemed as though someone was leaking these stories but I now believe that it will have come from listening in to our communications, voicemail interception and/ or blagging.”
'If you complain, they double down on you,' Harry claims
12:18 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has said it would have been “impossible to complain” at the time “thousands” of articles were being written about him by newspapers.
Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, suggested to Harry that Mail on Sunday journalist Katie Nicholl sourced stories about him by speaking to mutual friends of hers and the Duke.
Harry replied: “There is an unidentified source. In her position she would need to say that to attribute it to someone, but that is the luxury she has, never having to identify who her source is.”
The duke added: “If you complain, they double down on you in my experience.”
Harry says he became 'increasingly troubled' by press after meeting Meghan in 2016
12:09 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex continued in his witness statement: “However, in late 2016, when my relationship with Meghan, my now wife, became public, I started to become increasingly troubled by the approach of not taking action against the press in the wake of vicious persistent attacks on, harassment of and intrusive, sometimes racist articles concerning Meghan.
“The situation got worse when she became pregnant and after our son, Archie, was born.”
The duke referenced the legal action issued against ANL in October 2019 by the Duchess of Sussex over the publication of a letter she had sent to her father, adding that he also issued unlawful information gathering claims against News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers the same year.
He continued: “This was the first time I had my own legal representation outside of the Institution.
“Until that point, this had never occurred to me to be a possibility.”
'Your circle of trust decreases over time', Harry says
12:05 , Holly EvansWhen asked by Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited, the Duke of Sussex said it was “pretty convincing” that journalists had sourced information about him from his friends at the time they were published.
He said: “That was the way the articles had been written, a source said this, an insider said this.”
Mr White also said “people did sometimes provide information”.
The duke replied: “It’s probably helpful to put some context. When you are in a situation like this, the moment something private is out, your circle of trust and knowledge decreases over time.”
He continued: “The stuff in these articles is not the kind of stuff I would talk about openly.”
Duke had 'uneasy relationship' with press but was 'conditioned' to accept it
12:04 , Holly EvansIn his witness statement for the trial, the Duke of Sussex said he has always had an “uneasy relationship” with the press.
He said: “Following the death of my mother in 1997 when I was 12 years old and her treatment at the hands of the press, I have always had an uneasy relationship with them.
“However, as a member of the Institution the policy was to ‘never complain, never explain’.
“There was no alternative; I was conditioned to accept it. For the most part, I accepted the interest in my performing my public functions.”
Prince Harry couldn't complain about articles due to 'institution' he was in
11:58 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has told the High Court he would not have been able to complain about some of the articles at the centre of his claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail at the time “because of the institution I was in”.
Prince Harry is currently taking questions from ANL’s lawyer Antony White KC.
Laughter in court as Prince Harry fails to remember his preferred way to be addressed
11:47 , Holly EvansDavid Sherborne, representing Harry, asked the Duke of Sussex how he would like to be addressed, and if this would be as “Your Royal Highness”.
Harry replied: “Same as last time.”
When asked how that was, Harry added: “I can’t remember”.
This prompted laughter from those assembled in the packed courtroom, with Mr Sherborne confirming it was as “Prince Harry”.
There is currently a delay due to audio issues on the remove video link, which is being used by dozens of people to follow proceedings.
Prince Harry steps into the witness box
11:38 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has stepped into the witness box to give evidence in his legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.
Wearing a dark suit and striped tie, Harry swore on the Bible while taking the oath.
Harry is expected to give evidence for a day, with Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), cross-examining him before his barrister, David Sherborne, asks him some questions.
In pictures: Duke of Sussex arriving at court
11:13 , Holly Evans
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Prince Harry arrives in court to give evidence
11:05 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex has been seen arriving at the High Court alongside his legal team.
Prince Harry is due to begin giving evidence at 11.30am.
Earlier, a source close to his team accused Associated Newspapers Limited of “dirty tricks” after they finished their opening submissions a day earlier than expected.
Sir Elton John and husband felt safety of their children had been 'violated' by ANL
10:26 , Holly EvansSir Elton John and his husband David Furnish are two of the seven claimants suing the Daily Mail publisher, with the couple alleging that10 articles about them between 2002 and 2015 were based on unlawful information gathering by ANL.
In written submissions by barrister David Sherborne, he said of Sir Elton and Furnish: “They feel that their home, and the safety of their children and loved ones, has been violated.
“Mr Furnish explains that they are ‘profoundly affected by the uncertainty of not knowing how many times we were targeted… We still don’t know what was really done to us’.
“They are horrified that Associated has used their friendships against them by stealing information through those friends, which Sir Elton describes as ‘the exploitation of love, connection, trust and bonds to find out information shared in confidence’.
“Both Sir Elton and Mr Furnish underline the outrage they feel in light of Associated’s invasion into medical details surrounding the birth of their son Zachary, and the stealing of their son’s birth certificate ‘before we even had a chance to see it ourselves’.”
One of the 10 articles that Sir Elton and Furnish claim featured unlawfully gathered information included one published in the Mail On Sunday in May 2007, written by Katie Nicholl, which was headlined “Princes and Palace clash on ‘all-night’ Diana Party”.
Mr Sherborne said in written submissions that the piece contained “exclusive information relating to tensions in the royal household” over plans to hold an event after a memorial concert for Diana, Princess of Wales, which Harry and the now-Prince of Wales hoped that Sir Elton would attend.
ANL 'resort to game playing and dirty tricks' by pulling schedule forward, Harry source claims
10:03 , Holly EvansA source close to the Duke of Sussex’s claim said: “ANL, publishers of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, and their legal team, have had months to inform the court that their opening argument would last less than two hours, instead, they have had to resort to game playing and dirty tricks – consistent with the way they have treated not just the duke but all of the victims in this case.”
The source continued: “They think that by pulling the schedule forward 24 hours they are giving Prince Harry less time to prepare – he’s been preparing for this moment for the last three years.
“Safe to say, he’s ready.”
Prince Harry and celebs social circles were 'leaky', court told
09:42 , Holly EvansThe celebrities who claim the Daily Mail’s publisher engaged in unlawful information gathering had “leaky” social circles, a court has been told.
Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) said disclosures to the press about the private life of the Duke of Sussex in particular were “a not uncommon occurrence”.
The publisher’s lawyer, Antony White KC, told the Royal Courts of Justice on Monday: “The reality is that the social circles of the celebrity claimants, ie all the claimants bar Baroness (Doreen) Lawrence and Sir Simon Hughes, were ‘leaky’ and their friends, and friends of friends, or associates, did regularly provide information to the press about the claimants’ private lives, for obvious reasons on a confidential basis.”
Mr White said: “At all material times, the Duke of Sussex’s social circle was, and was known to be, a good source of leaks or disclosure of information to the media about what he got up to in his private life.”
Mr White later said Harry also discussed his private life in the media, and information about his life was also provided by palace spokespeople.
Harry faced ‘campaign of attacks’ for standing up to Mail publisher, court told
09:20 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex feels like he has faced a “sustained campaign of attacks” because he “had the temerity to stand up to” the Daily Mail’s publisher, the High Court was told on Tuesday.
Summarising part of the duke’s written evidence at the start of the hearing, his barrister David Sherborne said that Harry had detailed the “distress” and “paranoia” he had been caused.
Mr Sherborne continued: “But given what we’ve seen, is it any wonder that he feels that way, or as he explains, that he feels he has endured a sustained campaign of attacks against him for having had the temerity to stand up to Associated in the way that he has so publicly done.”
Mr Sherborne told the court the articles, written between 2001 and 2013, “focus primarily and in a highly intrusive and damaging way, on the relationships which he formed, or rather tried to form, during those years prior to meeting his now wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex”.
He continued: “Tracking his movements and those around him, as we see, with the potentially serious security implications, which go without saying.”
Claims against the company are 'threadbare', ANL lawyer argues
09:03 , Holly EvansIn court on Tuesday, Antony White KC, for ANL, said the claims against the company were “threadbare” and had been brought too late.
He continued that its journalists provide a “compelling account of a pattern of legitimate sourcing” of the more than 50 articles that are alleged to be the products of unlawful information gathering.
Mr White also told the court that payments to private investigators by journalists, cited by the claimants, were “examples of clutching at straws in the wind and seeking to bind them together in a way that has no proper analytical foundation”.
He added that claims made in a “disavowed” witness statement allegedly given by one private investigator named in the case, Gavin Burrows, including that he received large sums of money from the publisher, were “inherently implausible”.
The barrister said: “Associated is not a corner shop. It is audited. Auditors usually do not miss the haemorrhaging of large amounts of cash of this size.”
In written submissions, Mr White said the publisher “strongly denies” that there was any unlawful information gathering, including voicemail interception, directed at the duke.
Timeline of key events as Prince Harry phone hacking trial continues
08:36 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex is among seven prominent individuals initiating legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail, with a nine-week trial commencing on Monday.
After the case first began in 2022, here is a timeline of the group’s claim against Associated Newspapers Limited:
Timeline of key events as Prince Harry phone hacking trial continues
Prince Harry to begin evidence at 11.30am
08:30 , Holly EvansPrince Harry is set to begin giving evidence in the High Court trial of his legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail on Wednesday.
Harry, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
The Duke of Sussex attended court on Monday and the start of proceedings on Tuesday, but was seen leaving the Royal Courts of Justice in London during the lunch break.
He was scheduled to give evidence on Thursday, but opening submissions for the claimants and ANL concluded earlier than expected on Tuesday.
The trial will resume at 10.30am, with Harry expected to arrive at court at 11am and give evidence at around 11.30am.
Prince Harry and ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy’s sleeping arrangements ‘obtained unlawfully by Daily Mail publisher’
Tuesday 20 January 2026 16:51 , Holly EvansIntimate details about Prince Harry’s relationship with his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy, including their “sleeping arrangements” were obtained “unlawfully” by the Mail on Sunday, the High Court has heard.
An article published in January 2010 contained “granular detail” about their plans as a couple, and even Harry’s “preferences as to where he likes to spend the night”, the duke’s barrister David Sherborne said on Tuesday.
Other details published in the newspaper included how the Duke of Sussex had given his then on-and-off partner a “set of keys” while they navigated their long-distance relationship.
Read the full article here:
Harry and Chelsy Davy’s sleeping arrangments ‘obtained unlawfully by Mail on Sunday’
Prince Harry could begin evidence on Wednesday
Tuesday 20 January 2026 16:50 , Holly EvansThe Duke of Sussex could begin giving evidence in the trial of his legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail on Wednesday, the High Court has heard.
Harry, Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
This includes claims that information for articles was obtained by carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities such as phone tapping and “blagging” private records.
ANL has strongly denied wrongdoing and is defending the claims.
Harry attended court on Monday and the start of proceedings on Tuesday, but was seen leaving the Royal Courts of Justice in London during the lunch break.
He was initially scheduled to give evidence on Thursday, but opening submissions for the claimants and ANL concluded earlier than expected on Tuesday.
David Sherborne, representing the group, said he would “endeavour to have the Duke of Sussex here at 2pm tomorrow”.
He said: “I will do my best and we will notify the court and the defendant.”
