Prince Harry is due to testify on Jan. 22 in a nine-week privacy trial against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail. The suit—which includes claimants Elton John, David Furnish, Liz Hurley, Sadie Frost, Simon Hughes and Baroness Doreen Lawrence—alleges unlawful information gathering going back decades. Associated denies wrongdoing and has signalled an aggressive defence, including claims about members of the claimants' legal teams; the judge said such accusations must appear in its written defence to be raised at trial.
Prince Harry To Testify Jan. 22 In High-Profile Privacy Trial Against Daily Mail Publisher
Prince Harry delivers remarks at the True Patriot Love's National Tribute Dinner in Toronto on Thursday, Nov. 6, 2025. The annual event, organized by the True Patriot Love Foundation, honours Canada's military community and raises funds to support active service members, veterans and their families. Eduardo Lima/Pool via REUTERS
London, Jan 15 (Reuters) - Prince Harry is scheduled to give evidence at London's High Court on Jan. 22 as part of a nine-week privacy trial against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail. The proceedings, which begin the week of Jan. 18, also involve several other high-profile claimants alleging unlawful information gathering by the publisher's titles over decades.
This will be the prince's second courtroom testimony in three years. In 2023 Harry became the first British royal in 130 years to give evidence in open court when he successfully sued Mirror Group Newspapers.
Who Is Involved
The group of claimants includes singer Elton John and his husband David Furnish, actors Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost, former lawmaker Simon Hughes, and anti-racism campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence. Associated Newspapers denies any wrongdoing, calling the allegations "preposterous smears" against its journalists.
Case Details And Timetable
According to a draft trial timetable published on Thursday, the nine-week trial will see the claimants give evidence at the High Court in London, with Harry in the witness box on Jan. 22. Elton John and David Furnish are listed to give evidence in February and have indicated they will seek to do so remotely. Harry, who lives in California after stepping back from senior royal duties, is not expected to meet his father while in Britain for the case.
Bitter, High-Stakes Dispute
Associated has signalled an aggressive defence. The publisher intends to allege that some members of the claimants' legal teams were involved in a conspiracy to conceal knowledge of alleged wrongdoing at the Mail from certain claimants. Claimants' lawyers objected to the suggestion that they could be accused of "fraud, dishonesty and conspiracy" at trial; the judge said such allegations would only be permitted if they appear in Associated's written defence.
Key Witness And Security Concerns
The court also considered whether a key witness, former private investigator Gavin Burrows—who retracted an earlier statement admitting unlawful acts on behalf of Associated—should give live evidence. Burrows' lawyer told the court his client feared that appearing in person could expose him to "personal risk."
Context And Background
This action is the last remaining case Harry has brought against UK media organisations since he and his wife Meghan began a series of legal challenges in 2019, which Harry has described as part of a campaign to hold British newspaper executives and editors accountable for abuses of power. Harry won his case against Mirror Group in 2023 and last year settled with News Group Newspapers, receiving an apology and damages related to privacy breaches affecting him and his late mother, Princess Diana.
Note: The trial is a central test of longstanding claims about press intrusion and the responsibilities of publishers toward public figures and private citizens alike.
(Reporting by Sam Tobin and Michael Holden; Editing by Peter Graff)
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