Prince Harry is poised to begin giving evidence as early as Wednesday in the High Court trial of his legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The Duke of Sussex, along with a group of high-profile claimants including Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, is suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over serious allegations of unlawful information gathering.
Court Hears of Distress and Paranoia
Earlier this week, the court was presented with detailed accounts of Prince Harry's profound distress and paranoia following the publication of several articles in Mail newspapers. These pieces contained intimate and granular details about his past relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, including their sleeping arrangements and the fact that Harry had given her a set of keys to his residence.
Security Implications Revealed
David Sherborne, the barrister representing the claimants, told the court that the unlawful acts by private investigators working for ANL had entirely frustrated the former couple's efforts to maintain privacy. Discussing one particular article about travel plans for an African holiday, Sherborne emphasised that the intrusion carried serious security implications, going beyond mere privacy violations.
Allegations of Unlawful Activities
The legal action centres on claims that information for articles was obtained through or by commissioning unlawful activities such as phone tapping and blagging private records. ANL has strongly denied all accusations and is vigorously defending the claims, with the trial expected to continue for approximately nine weeks.
Unexpected Schedule Change
Prince Harry, who attended court on Monday and the start of proceedings on Tuesday, was initially scheduled to give evidence on Thursday. However, opening submissions concluded earlier than anticipated, prompting Sherborne to announce he would endeavour to have the Duke of Sussex present by 2pm on Wednesday.
The case has drawn significant public and media attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about press ethics and the protection of personal privacy in the digital age.
