Prince Harry and six other high-profile figures have accused the publisher of the Daily Mail of engaging in unlawful information gathering to obtain stories about them. The Duke of Sussex described the intrusion as 'terrifying' for his loved ones, causing a 'massive strain' on his personal relationships and making him 'paranoid beyond belief'.
The case, which began in the High Court, targets Associated Newspapers Ltd, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The claimants include Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, and former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes.
Claimants' barrister David Sherborne alleged that journalists and senior executives at the newspapers commissioned and approved the use of unlawfully obtained information. He claimed there was 'indisputable evidence' of a 'clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering' over two decades.
The alleged unlawful acts include intercepting voicemail messages, listening to live landline calls, and obtaining private information through deception, known as 'blagging'. The claimants say these activities occurred between 1993 and 2011, continuing until 2018.
Associated Newspapers has denied any wrongdoing, describing the claims as 'lurid' and 'preposterous'. The company's lawyers argued that the allegations were 'simply untrue' and that the legal action resulted from a 'coordinated strategy' to recruit prominent claimants.
