The publisher of the Daily Mail has claimed that Prince Harry and other high-profile figures had "leaky" social circles, as a landmark legal battle over alleged unlawful information gathering entered its second day.
‘Every Move Was Tracked’ – Duke’s Courtroom Testimony
On Monday, the Duke of Sussex told the High Court that he was left feeling "paranoid beyond belief" by methods allegedly used by Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL). He stated it was "disturbing to feel that my every move, thought or feeling was being tracked."
Harry explained that the alleged practices, which he claims included obtaining his flight details and monitoring the phone conversations of his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy, created a "massive strain" on his personal relationships, fostering an atmosphere of distrust.
A United Front of High-Profile Claimants
The Duke is not alone in his allegations. He is joined in the lawsuit by a group of prominent figures, all accusing ANL of a "clear systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering." The claimants are:
- Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish
- Campaigner and Labour peer Baroness Doreen Lawrence
- Politician Sir Simon Hughes
- Actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley
The alleged unlawful activities span a range of intrusive methods. These include hiring private investigators, "blagging" or illegally obtaining medical records and flight details, and accessing private phone conversations.
Publisher’s Defence and Claimants’ Rebuttal
In a dramatic opening to the trial, lawyers for the claimants asserted that ANL "knew they had skeletons in their closet" when they previously issued emphatic denials of any wrongdoing. The publisher, however, maintains its position, having denied all claims of unlawful practices.
As the case resumed on Tuesday 20 January 2026, ANL's legal team sought to counter the allegations by suggesting the claimants' own social networks were a source of information leaks. The trial continues at the Royal Courts of Justice in London.
Specific claims detailed in court include the alleged obtaining of actress Sadie Frost's confidential medical records and the targeting of Baroness Lawrence, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence. The outcome of this case could have significant ramifications for press standards and privacy laws in the UK.
