Prince Harry is expected to return to the United Kingdom next week to testify in his lawsuit against Associated Newspapers Limited, the publishers of the Daily Mail. The visit comes amid questions over whether the younger son of King Charles III will see any royal family members during the trip.
Who is suing, and what the plaintiffs allege
The Duke of Sussex is suing Associated Newspapers alongside six other parties, including musician Elton John and actress Elizabeth Hurley. The plaintiffs allege the publisher used illegal information-gathering practices in the late 1990s and early 2000s.
They claim unlawful methods were used to obtain private information, including the alleged use of private investigators to place listening devices inside cars and homes, as well as alleged payments to police officials for inside information. Associated Newspapers has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Court schedule and latest hearing
Harry is expected to make an appearance on Thursday, Jan. 22. Lawyers for both sides appeared before a judge on Jan. 15 in a pretrial hearing to discuss witness testimony and last-minute amendments to the case.
Background on Harry’s other tabloid legal fights
The case is described as Harry’s last major court battle involving multiple tabloids that he has accused of intrusions on his private life.
In 2023, Harry testified in a phone-hacking case against Mirror Group Newspapers that later reached a settlement. The publisher apologized for past “unlawful information gathering,” according to The Associated Press, agreed to cover his legal costs, and paid out around 300,000 pounds (approximately $400,000) in damages.
Last January, Harry also reached a settlement in a lawsuit against News Group Newspapers, the publisher of The Sun, which apologized for a prior “serious intrusion” into his personal life between 1996 and 2011 and paid “substantial” damages.
Where Harry lives now, and royal family questions around the trip
Harry currently lives in California with his wife Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, and their children Archie and Lilibet. The couple moved to the U.S. after stepping down from their roles as senior working royals in 2020 and have had a distant relationship with the British royal family ever since.
Sources:
ABC News – “Prince Harry expected to return to UK as tabloid trial begins”
People – “Prince Harry Set to Take the Stand Next Week in Final Case Against U.K. Tabloids”
