The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has suffered a significant setback in his ongoing battle against the British press. A High Court judge has dismissed all claims against Associated Newspapers Ltd., the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, for unlawful information-gathering.
The judge, Mr. Justice Nicklin, rejected the claims, stating that the parties failed to prove their allegations. The claimants, including Prince Harry, had accused the publisher of "abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy." However, the court found that there remained a legitimate and realistic possible lawful source pathway for the information, and the article-specific evidence did not prove that the relevant information must have been obtained unlawfully.
The claimants had alleged that the publisher commissioned individuals to listen to private telephone calls, paid police officials for inside information, and impersonated individuals to obtain medical records. However, the company has long denied the allegations, describing them as "preposterous smears" and stating that the claimants are "clutching at straws."
The ruling marks the last of Prince Harry's series of lawsuits against the British press in recent years. He had previously received symbolic damages from the Mail on Sunday and was awarded a significant sum from the Mirror Group Newspapers. However, this latest ruling is a significant blow to his efforts to hold the press accountable for their actions.
Prince Harry arrived in the U.K. on Monday, partly to learn the verdict, which coincided with events centring on his beloved Invictus Games. However, his trip began chaotically after Buckingham Palace contradicted the duke's team, saying that he would not be staying at the palace after missing a deadline to accept their offer of accommodation. It remains unclear whether Harry and his family will join him once he leaves London for other events.
