Prince Harry appeared at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Wednesday for the latest stage of his legal battle against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The Duke of Sussex, accompanied by his security detail, took a seat at the back of court 76, armed with a bottle of water and a grievance built over decades. This marks his third major case against a newspaper publisher over alleged illegal information gathering.
During cross-examination by Antony White KC, Harry gave tetchy responses, denying claims that he was friends with journalist Katie Nicholl or that he used a Facebook profile named “Mr Mischief” to contact a Mail on Sunday reporter. He also refuted suggestions that he met a Mail Group journalist at a house party in Ibiza, stating he had never been to the island except with his wife. The prince repeatedly turned to the judge to add context, describing the press’s actions as an “endless pursuit” that drove him “paranoid beyond belief.”
The judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, intervened to remind Harry that the barrister’s role was to challenge his evidence, saying, “You don’t have to bear the burden of arguing the case today. Your role is simply to answer the questions as best you can.” Harry explained his defensiveness by referencing a “bad experience” with Andrew Green KC during a previous case against Mirror Group Newspapers.
Harry claims that stories about his social and dating life from his teens and 20s could only have been obtained illegally. The newspapers’ defence is that their reporters gathered information by befriending his social circle and using tips and anonymous sources. Harry insisted, “My social circles were not leaky,” but described a pattern of nightclub visits where reporters mingled with friends and relationships that ended after details were published.
The case, brought alongside other plaintiffs including Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, and Doreen Lawrence, covers alleged illegal methods used between 2001 and 2013. Associated Newspapers vehemently rejects the claims, and neither side has shown willingness to settle. This comes a year after News Group Newspapers apologised and paid £10m to settle Harry’s phone hacking case.
