PRINCE Harry, the Duke of Sussex, made a surprise remote appearance on Wednesday at London’s High Court as part of his ongoing legal war with sections of the British media, accusing them of widespread privacy violations.
The preliminary hearing, which was accessible through a remote link, revealed one user logged in under the name “Prince Harry.” While the prince did not appear in person, his presence underscored the seriousness of the case, which could proceed to a full trial lasting up to nine weeks next year.
Harry is one of seven high-profile claimants taking legal action against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The group also includes British actor Elizabeth Hurley, actress Sadie Frost, musician Sir Elton John’s husband David Furnish, and other public figures.
The claimants allege that the newspaper group engaged in or commissioned unlawful activities to gather private information.
These include phone hacking, placing listening devices in cars, impersonating individuals to access confidential medical records, ordering burglaries, and intercepting private telephone conversations.
Associated Newspapers has strongly denied the allegations, calling them “lurid” and “simply preposterous.”
Harry has had a long and often bitter relationship with the British tabloids, which he blames for much of the intrusion into his and his late mother Princess Diana’s lives.
In December 2023, Harry won £140,600 ($189,000) in damages after suing Mirror Group Newspapers over similar claims. Earlier this year, he received “substantial damages” after settling another privacy lawsuit against News Group Newspapers, the publishers of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.
The Duke made history in June 2023 when he became the first British royal in over 130 years to take the witness stand during his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers, an appearance that generated worldwide headlines.
At Wednesday’s hearing, David Furnish and Sadie Frost attended in person, while Harry followed remotely from the United States, where he lives with his wife Meghan Markle and their two children.
The couple stepped down from senior royal duties in 2020 after tensions with Harry’s family, particularly his brother, Prince William, and father, King Charles III.
The current hearing is expected to continue into Thursday, though no immediate ruling on the allegations is anticipated. If it proceeds to trial, it could mark another high-profile clash between Harry and Britain’s tabloid press, a fight he has described as deeply personal and part of his mission to hold the media accountable.
