Liz Hurley Arrives at High Court to Give Evidence Against Daily Mail Publisher
Actress Liz Hurley has arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London to provide testimony on the fourth day of the ongoing legal trial against the publisher of the Daily Mail. She was accompanied by her son, Damian Hurley, as she entered the court building at approximately 9.45am on Thursday morning.
Prince Harry's Return to Court in Solidarity with Fellow Claimants
The Duke of Sussex is scheduled to return to the High Court on Thursday to demonstrate support and solidarity with the other claimants involved in the case. A spokesperson for Prince Harry confirmed his attendance on Wednesday evening, stating he would be present to back his fellow litigants.
During his testimony on Wednesday, Prince Harry told the court that the publisher's actions had made his wife's life "an absolute misery." When questioned by his barrister David Sherborne about how the legal proceedings had affected him, the duke responded: "It's fundamentally wrong to put us through this again when all we wanted was an apology and accountability. It's a horrible experience."
Detailed Witness Statement Reveals Historical Concerns
In his comprehensive 23-page witness statement, Prince Harry revealed that when he initially pursued legal action against two other newspaper publishers, he had "no idea" that he might have grounds for a claim against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). He stated emphatically: "As I am sure is clear, if I had known earlier then I would have acted, particularly given ANL's treatment of Meghan and her claim against it."
The Duchess of Sussex previously sued ANL successfully in 2021 after The Mail on Sunday published sections of what she described as a "personal and private" letter addressed to her father, Thomas Markle. This legal victory followed Prince Harry's earlier public criticism of media treatment toward Meghan, during which Kensington Palace issued a stern warning on his behalf: "This is not a game – it is her life."
Specific Allegations and Historical Context
During a particularly tense exchange with lawyers representing ANL, Prince Harry told the High Court: "My social circles were not leaky, I want to make that absolutely clear." He further explained that if he ever became suspicious of someone potentially leaking information, "I would have to cut contact with this person."
Among the numerous stories contested by Prince Harry is one concerning "confidential discussions" he held following the publication of a photograph depicting his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, in her final moments in the Italian press. He characterized this article as "beyond cruel" in his testimony.
Another article published in the Daily Mail during July 2006 was described by Prince Harry in his written evidence as "really disgusting," relating to private conversations with his brother, the now-Prince of Wales. Additional articles focused on his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy, with Prince Harry telling the court he felt "really worried something bad was going to happen" during their relationship.
Reflecting on these historical concerns in his written statement, Prince Harry noted: "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."
Broader Legal Action and Defendant's Position
Liz Hurley joins Prince Harry, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, fellow actress Sadie Frost, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and politician Sir Simon Hughes in pursuing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited. The claimants allege unlawful information gathering practices by the publisher.
Associated Newspapers Limited has issued a strong denial of any wrongdoing and is vigorously defending itself against all claims presented in court. The trial, presided over by Mr Justice, is expected to continue through March with proceedings resuming at 10.30am daily.
