Prince Harry’s legal battle has been hit with a major setback, as an allegation that the Daily Mail publisher commissioned “burglary to order” cannot go to an upcoming trial, a High Court judge has ruled.
The Duke of Sussex is one of a group of seven high-profile individuals bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
Other claimants alongside Prince Harry include Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Liz Hurley.
They have accused the Mail publisher of allegedly carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities such as hiring private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, “blagging” private records and accessing private phone conversations.
ANL has firmly denied the allegations and is defending the legal action, previously describing the claims as “lurid” and “simply preposterous”.
At a preliminary hearing earlier this month, lawyers for the group and ANL returned to the High Court in London ahead of an expected trial in January 2026.
An allegation had been made that two Mail on Sunday journalists burgled the home of Michael Ward in 1992 and stole documents.
However, a lawyer representing ANL, Antony White KC, made a bid to have these allegations dismissed ahead of the trial.
Prince Harry legal battle hit with huge setback as major allegation dismissed ahead of trial
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PA
In a judgment on Friday, Mr Justice Nicklin agreed.
He said: “Even if proved true, they cannot assist in the fair resolution of the claimants’ claims.
“It is not alleged that this incident has any connection with any claimant, or any pleaded journalist.”
In his 16-page ruling, the judge said that resolving these allegations had become “extremely complex” and an “involved side-show”.
He continued: “The events took place over 30 years ago.
“This is not a small area of the case. It is now a substantial dispute of fact.
“The costs and resources that would be devoted to resolving the factual dispute would, I am satisfied, be out of all proportion to any possible evidential value.
“Put bluntly, it has become a complex and involved side-show.”
The group of claimants also includes David Furnish, Sadie Frost and Sir Simon Hughes.
It is understood that lawyers representing the group of seven will make a bid to appeal against Mr Justice Nicklin’s ruling as wrong in fact and in law.
The Duke of Sussex and other claimants brought legal action against ANL in October 2022.
Prince Harry has also successfully sued Mirror Group Newspapers, while Murdoch’s News Group Newspapers settled a claim ahead of a trial.