Prince Harry, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, Sir Elton John, and his wife, director David Furnish, are bringing the action.
Prince Harry has arrived at the High Court as legal proceedings begin in Associated Newspapers’ phone-tapping and privacy case.
It is likely his first trip back to the United Kingdom since his grandmother’s funeral in September.
Associated Newspapers denies the allegations, and a preliminary High Court hearing commencing today will evaluate legal arguments and a judge will determine whether the case will proceed.
Footage showed a beaming prince escorted by bodyguards and surrounded by journalists. As he arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London, wearing a suit, tie, and black winter coat.
At one point, he collided with a photographer as he passed through the courthouse’s gates.
Harry sat in the rear of the courtroom, occasionally taking notes in a small black notebook, as the proceedings began.
The 38-year-old’s unexpected return to the United Kingdom comes amid tensions with Buckingham Palace over explosive revelations made by the prince in his controversial memoir, Spare, which detailed his troubled relationship with his father, King Charles, and brother, Prince William, the Prince of Wales.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have reportedly been invited to the coronation of the King on 6 May. Which coincides with their son Archie’s 6th birthday. They may not attend because they were urged to “vacate” Frogmore Cottage, their Queen-gifted UK home.
Who is involved in the legal proceeding?
Along with Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, Sir Elton John and his spouse, director David Furnish, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon OBE, Harry is bringing the action.
Frost was also present in court on Monday.
They allege that Associated Newspapers Limited engaged in “abhorrent criminal activity” and “gross breaches of privacy” against them.
It is alleged that the illegal activities included hiring private investigators to covertly install listening devices in cars and homes, recording private phone conversations, gaining unauthorized access to bank accounts, and paying police officials for inside information.
The publisher referred to the allegations as “ridiculous smears” and a “premeditated and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal.”
A spokesperson for ANL also stated that the allegations are “highly defamatory and unsubstantiated allegations based on no credible evidence.”
The four-day hearing will include ANL’s motion to dismiss the claims without trial.
Who else will Prince Harry be courting?
Prince Harry is involved in numerous cases against the tabloid press, including this one.
The duke is suing Associated Newspapers for libel over a Mail on Sunday story about his security. According to the newspaper, the article was founded on “honest opinion.”
In May, his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, will go to trial over allegations of phone hacking from 1996 to 2011.
He is also prosecuting News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Times, The Sunday Times, and The Sun (along with the defunct News of the World) for alleged phone hacking. The Sun’s owner has never admitted to phone hacking.
