Prince Harry Loses Privacy Battle Against Daily Mail Publisher
Prince Harry had his 14 claims against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, dismissed by the High Court on Tuesday. Mr Justice Nicklin delivered the verdict, ruling that ANL had won the case after a trial that began in January and ended in March. The judge stated that the Duke of Sussex had “limited evidence” to support his allegations of unlawful information gathering, which included landline tapping and obtaining information through deception.
Judge's Criticism of Prince Harry's Evidence
In a 436-page ruling, Mr Justice Nicklin said: “In assessing Prince Harry’s evidence overall, it was apparent that he wished the court to understand the personal impact of the matters in issue. At times, this led him beyond giving factual evidence into advancing arguments on the issues.” The judge noted that while Harry's instinct to argue his case was understandable, the responsibility for advancing the party’s case rests with the advocate. He concluded that Harry had “limited evidence to give on the contentious matters in dispute.”
ANL Welcomes the Verdict
Following the release of the court verdict, an Associated Newspapers Ltd spokesperson said the publisher welcomes the judgement, calling it “an overwhelming victory for the Daily Mail and its journalists, and for a free press generally.” The spokesperson also stated that every article that faced allegations of unlawful information gathering was “legitimately sourced.”
Harry's Appearance in London
Harry heard about the verdict before stepping out in London to attend the 14th Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice. He smiled and waved as he arrived alone, having flown into the UK on Monday. The duke's legal defeat marks a significant setback in his ongoing legal battles against the British press.
