Prince Harry and a group of prominent public figures have accused the publisher of the Daily Mail of widespread unlawful information gathering, as a major civil trial opened at the High Court in London.
The Duke of Sussex, appearing in court alongside several co-claimants, said the alleged actions caused severe personal distress and placed intense strain on his relationships, according to a witness statement submitted to the court.
The case targets Associated Newspapers Ltd, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, and represents Harry’s final legal action against newspaper groups over alleged illicit practices.
The claims relate to reporting produced over a period spanning the 1990s to the 2010s and are expected to be tested over a trial lasting up to 10 weeks.
Lawyers for the claimants allege that journalists and executives at Associated Newspapers engaged in a “clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering” to obtain private material.
The alleged practices include hacking voicemail messages, listening to live landline calls, and acquiring confidential data such as phone records and medical information through deception.
Fourteen articles concerning Prince Harry are said to have been produced using such methods, with similar allegations raised by the other claimants.
Those involved in the action include Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish, actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, anti-racism campaigner Doreen Lawrence, and former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes.
The claimants argue that private investigators were regularly commissioned and that senior editorial staff were aware of, or approved, the conduct.
Associated Newspapers is also accused of destroying large volumes of emails and documents, an allegation the company attributes to routine deletion policies.
Associated Newspapers has strongly denied all wrongdoing, describing the claims as exaggerated and unsupported by evidence.
Its lawyers argue that accusations of widespread unlawful conduct are “simply untrue” and rely on inference rather than proof.
The publisher has said the case forms part of a coordinated effort by wealthy individuals hostile to the press and has questioned the credibility of former private investigators cited by the claimants.
The company previously sought to have the lawsuit dismissed on the grounds that it was brought too late, but that attempt failed.
Prince Harry is expected to give evidence later this week, with the outcome likely to carry significant financial and reputational consequences for all parties involved.