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Prince Harry is expected to give evidence in a major High Court privacy case against ANL
Prince Harry expected to give evidence in High Court privacy case against Daily Mail publisher Prince Harry is expected to give evidence in the High Court as part of a long-running privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, according to Reuters.
The Duke of Sussex is one of seven claimants bringing claims against ANL over alleged unlawful information-gathering practices, including the use of private investigators, the “blagging” of confidential information, and the misuse of personal data. ANL denies all allegations.
The group of claimants also includes Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Simon Hughes, Sadie Frost, and Liz Hurley. The proceedings were issued in October 2020 and have developed into one of the most significant media law trials currently before the English courts. Reuters reports that Prince Harry is expected to spend a full day giving evidence, with the trial listed to run for around nine weeks. The hearing is taking place in the High Court in London and concerns alleged conduct said to have occurred over a number of years.
ANL has previously described the claims as “baseless” and has maintained that it acted lawfully at all times. Earlier attempts by the publisher to strike out parts of the case were unsuccessful, allowing the claims to proceed to a full trial.
The lawsuit forms part of a wider pattern of litigation by Prince Harry against sections of the British press. In other cases, courts have already found that unlawful information-gathering took place at certain newspaper groups, while other claims remain ongoing.
A judgment in the ANL case is expected after the conclusion of evidence and legal submissions.
Legal context: What is this case about? The claim against Associated Newspapers Limited involves several established areas of English media law, including:
Misuse of private information – where a publisher is alleged to have unlawfully intruded into a person’s private life
Breach of confidence – involving the alleged improper use of confidential information
Data protection breaches – claims relating to the unlawful processing of personal data
Conspiracy and unlawful means – allegations that third-party investigators were used to obtain information improperly
To succeed, the claimants must show that the alleged activities took place and that ANL is legally responsible for them. The court will also consider public interest arguments and the balance between press freedom and individual privacy rights.
Source: Reuters