Phone hacking: Duke of Sussex to be at centre of trial against tabloid newspaper publisher
The Duke of Sussex will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for 130 years when he testifies this week in his lawsuit against a newspaper group he accuses of unlawful behaviour.
Prince Harry is due to appear at the High Court as his case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror over alleged unlawful information gathering begins.
The duke is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming journalists at its titles, which also include the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People, were linked to methods including phone-hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
It will be the first time a senior royal has given evidence since Edward VII testified as a witness in part of a divorce case in 1870 and 20 years later in a slander trial over a card game, both before he became king.
Harry is due to arrive at the court in London today and is due to enter the witness box on Tuesday, when he will face cross-examination from MGN’s lawyers.
Harry to become first British royal in 130 years to give evidence in court
Prince Harry will become the first senior British royal to give evidence in court for 130 years when he testifies this week in his lawsuit against a newspaper group he accuses of unlawful behaviour.
Harry, King Charles’ younger son, will appear in the witness box at London’s High Court as part of the case he and more than 100 other celebrities and high-profile figures have brought against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.
It will be the first time a senior royal has given evidence since Edward VII testified as a witness in part of a divorce case in 1870 and 20 years later in a slander trial over a card game, both before he became king.
(Getty)
Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 June 2023 07:42
Prince Harry set for witness box showdown in phone hacking trial against tabloid
The duke has been asked to attend court on Monday in case the opening speeches finish before the end of the day, so there is a possibility he may enter the witness box on Monday afternoon. Otherwise he is expected to begin his evidence on Tuesday, when he will face cross-examination from MGN’s lawyers.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 June 2023 08:00
A timeline of Prince Harry’s legal battles – from phone-hacking to the Home Office
The Duke of Sussex is due to be cross-examined in the High Court this week as hearings get under way in his case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror over the alleged unlawful gathering of information.
Prince Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers for damages, claiming journalists carried out or authorised phone-hacking, “blagging” or gaining information by deception and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
Even though he and his wife Meghan moved to California more than three years ago, he remains mired in several legal battles making their way through the British courts.
Maryam Zakir-Hussain5 June 2023 07:30
What we know about Harry’s latest legal battle
Why the duke is going to court and what the case is all about. Report by Tom Pilgrim of PA:
Jane Dalton5 June 2023 07:00
King away on holiday as Harry visits London
The King will miss his son’s visit to London as he is due to be in holiday in Romania for five days:
Jane Dalton5 June 2023 05:00
When Princess Anne appeared in court
It is thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park. Here’s our coverage of the case at the time:
Jane Dalton5 June 2023 03:00
Harry ‘hoped for apology from family’
A month ago, Prince Harry attended the coronation of King Charles III and Queen Camilla – but his wife Meghan Markle stayed at home in California with their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
The prince arrived at Westminster Abbey alone, and was assigned to sit two rows behind his brother, and then he left alone.
The Duke of Sussex has been seeking an apology from his family, according to his television interviews in January.
(Getty Images)
Jane Dalton5 June 2023 01:00
Girlfriend article ‘obtained legitimately’
A 2004 Daily Mirror article about the Duke of Sussex’s then-girlfriend Chelsy Davy was “obtained legitimately”, a former journalist and news editor has told the High Court:
Jane Dalton5 June 2023 00:01
The 33 articles at the heart of the case
Some 33 articles, dated between 1996 and 2009, have been selected for examination during the trial of Harry’s contested claim against MGN.
The company has told the trial in London that it denies that 28 out of the 33 articles involved unlawful information gathering and that it was not admitted for the remaining five articles.
The publisher claims the stories came from a range of sources, including information disclosed by royal households or other royals, freelance journalists and news agencies as well as confidential sources with “extensive” royal contacts.
These are the 33 articles:
Jane Dalton4 June 2023 23:00
Duke’s other battles
The duke is no stranger to fighting legal cases. Here are his other battles:
Jane Dalton4 June 2023 21:00
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