Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles, along with several prominent British personalities, faced defeat in their privacy lawsuits against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The lawsuit accused the publisher of engaging in extensive unlawful practices.
Among those suing the publisher were singer Elton John and his spouse David Furnish, as well as actors Sadie Frost and Elizabeth Hurley. They claimed that numerous articles published by Associated Newspapers in the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday from the 1990s to 2011 were based on unlawfully obtained information.
Judge Matthew Nicklin stated in a summary of his ruling that the claimants had to demonstrate that the published information about them was acquired unlawfully, emphasizing that mere suspicion was insufficient.
The court dismissed the argument that the mere privacy of the information implied it was unlawfully sourced because the publisher could not provide a definitive explanation of its origin, as outlined in the summary.
Prince Harry, holding back tears during his testimony in January, expressed how the Daily Mail had made his wife Meghan’s life “an absolute misery.” In response to the court decision, Harry criticized it as a “complete and obvious whitewash, but sadly not unexpected.”
Associated Newspapers refuted the allegations as smears and celebrated the dismissal of all claims on Tuesday, labeling it as a resounding victory for the Daily Mail and its journalists.
The lawsuit marked the final outstanding case in a series of legal battles Harry initiated against tabloid publishers for employing illicit tactics. Harry highlighted his partial successes in previous cases involving hacking claims against News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers.
In a separate significant case, Rupert Murdoch’s News Group in the U.K. issued a full apology to the Duke of Sussex for phone hacking and misuse of private information. Harry accused News Group Newspapers of unlawfully obtaining private information about him spanning from 1996 to 2011.
Harry’s ongoing battle against tabloids has been linked to tensions within the Royal family, with King Charles reportedly opposing the litigation as per Harry’s legal filings.
The Duke of Sussex has long been vocal about press intrusion, attributing the death of his mother, Princess Diana, to media harassment. Elton John has also faced legal disputes with British tabloids dating back to the 1980s.
Former Liberal Democratic MP Simon Hughes and anti-racism activist Doreen Lawrence were among the other claimants. The decision was hailed by Paul Dacre, the former editor-in-chief of Associated Newspapers, as a significant vindication, with scathing remarks directed at Prince Harry.
Currently in the U.K. for charity engagements, including promoting the Invictus Games, Harry’s visit has sparked speculation about potential family reunions amidst reports that his immediate family will not be joining him on this trip. The security measures for Harry during his stay in the U.K. have also come under scrutiny due to his diminished royal status.