Prince Harry back in London for press lawsuit
The Duke of Sussex is back in Britain to testify in the lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers.
Prince Harry arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in London on Monday, January 19, 2026, for what is described as his final major legal battle with the British tabloid press. The Duke of Sussex leads a group of seven high-profile plaintiffs, including Elton John, actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost.
The plaintiffs accuse Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, of using illegal methods to obtain information about them. They claim that the newspaper group paid private investigators in the 1990s and 2000s to bug cars and homes, intercept phone calls and bribe police for sensitive information.
Prince Harry arrives at High Court in London on January 19, 2026. Photo: NBC News
Harry's case is based on 14 separate newspaper articles, and he claims that the alleged illegal information gathering between 1993 and 2011 put 'massive pressure' on his personal relationships. 'It is deeply disturbing to feel that every step I took, every thought or feeling I had, was being tracked and monitored just so the Mail could make money from it,' the prince stated.
When he arrived at court early Monday morning in a black SUV, he was wearing a dark blue suit. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harry smiled and waved at journalists who called out 'good morning' before entering the building. A spokesperson said the Duke was 'confident and ready.'
The trial is expected to last nine weeks, with tens of millions of dollars at stake. Harry is scheduled to testify on Thursday, January 22. This will be the third time the prince has taken a major newspaper group to court.
The publisher has rejected the allegations, calling them 'absurd.' Defense attorney Antony White claimed that 'leaky' friends of the celebrities were a main source for the articles, arguing that the lawsuits were based on 'guesswork' and 'conclusions drawn from insufficient evidence.'
Harry won a court ruling in 2023 that condemned the publishers of the Daily Mirror for 'widespread and habitual' phone hacking. Last year, Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid issued a historic apology for invading Harry's privacy for years and agreed to pay substantial damages.
The lawsuit is part of Harry's self-declared mission to reform the media he believes is responsible for his mother's death. Princess Diana died in a car accident in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.
Prince Harry arrives at High Court in London on January 19, 2026. Photo: NBC News
Harry's case is based on 14 separate newspaper articles, and he claims that the alleged illegal information gathering between 1993 and 2011 put 'massive pressure' on his personal relationships. 'It is deeply disturbing to feel that every step I took, every thought or feeling I had, was being tracked and monitored just so the Mail could make money from it,' the prince stated.
When he arrived at court early Monday morning in a black SUV, he was wearing a dark blue suit. Despite the seriousness of the situation, Harry smiled and waved at journalists who called out 'good morning' before entering the building. A spokesperson said the Duke was 'confident and ready.'
The trial is expected to last nine weeks, with tens of millions of dollars at stake. Harry is scheduled to testify on Thursday, January 22. This will be the third time the prince has taken a major newspaper group to court.
The publisher has rejected the allegations, calling them 'absurd.' Defense attorney Antony White claimed that 'leaky' friends of the celebrities were a main source for the articles, arguing that the lawsuits were based on 'guesswork' and 'conclusions drawn from insufficient evidence.'
Harry won a court ruling in 2023 that condemned the publishers of the Daily Mirror for 'widespread and habitual' phone hacking. Last year, Rupert Murdoch's British tabloid issued a historic apology for invading Harry's privacy for years and agreed to pay substantial damages.
The lawsuit is part of Harry's self-declared mission to reform the media he believes is responsible for his mother's death. Princess Diana died in a car accident in Paris in 1997 while being pursued by paparazzi.