**Prince Harry's High-Profile Court Battle Against 'Highly Intrusive' Press**
The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, has returned to London for a crucial High Court case against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of several top British newspapers, including the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday. In this highly anticipated trial, Prince Harry will allege that ANL's behavior left him "paranoid beyond belief," according to court documents.
The prince's claims relate to alleged unlawful information gathering used in 14 articles between 2001 and 2013. ANL strongly denies these allegations, arguing that the claimants knew or should have known about the existence of the articles in question long before the cut-off date for claims to be brought.
Prince Harry is one of seven high-profile claimants against ANL, including Elton John, Liz Hurley, and actor Sadie Frost. Other claimants include John's husband, David Furnish, former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes, and Doreen Lawrence, the mother of murdered teenager Stephen Lawrence.
The trial is expected to last nine weeks, with a total cost estimated at around £40 million. The case has sparked intense media attention, with many questioning whether there can be any winners in this high-stakes battle between the Duke of Sussex and the British press.
On the second day of the trial, Prince Harry's barrister, David Sherborne, claimed that ANL obtained "highly intrusive" information about Harry's romantic relationships. Sherborne also alleged that ANL illegally obtained information about Hurley's paternity battle with Stephen Bing, as well as private details about Elton John's surrogacy and care arrangements for his newborn son.
ANL has denied using illegal means to obtain this information, instead suggesting that Prince Harry's friends were a "good source of leaks" for journalists. However, questions have arisen over the reliability of witness evidence in the case, with private investigator Gavin Burrows maintaining that he was never instructed or commissioned by anyone at The Mail on Sunday or the Daily Mail to conduct unlawful information gathering.
This is Prince Harry's third major court battle against media groups, following his successful claims against Mirror Group Newspapers and The Sun. If ANL loses this case, it could face significant reputational damage and financial costs.
For now, all parties are standing firm in the High Court, with the Duke of Sussex determined to see through what he calls his "personal crusade" to change the media landscape. As one observer noted, "the stakes for all sides are high," and the outcome will have far-reaching implications for the British press and its relationship with the royal family.
**A Brief History of Prince Harry's Battles Against the Press**
* In December 2023, Prince Harry won 15 claims against Mirror Group Newspapers for unlawful information gathering. * In January 2025, The Sun agreed to pay substantial damages and issued an apology to the prince over claims of unlawful intrusion into his life.
**The Claimants' Case Against ANL**
* David Sherborne, the claimants' barrister, has alleged that ANL obtained highly intrusive information about Prince Harry's romantic relationships. * ANL has denied using illegal means to obtain this information, instead suggesting that Prince Harry's friends were a "good source of leaks" for journalists.
**The High-Stakes Trial**
* The trial is expected to last nine weeks and cost around £40 million. * The outcome will have far-reaching implications for the British press and its relationship with the royal family.