Prince Harry, the youngest son of King Charles III, has lost his high-profile case against the Daily Mail's publisher over allegations of unlawful information gathering.
This decision marks another blow to the estranged royal, who has been embroiled in a long-standing feud with British tabloids. The case, which began in 2025, had seen Prince Harry and singer Elton John present emotional testimony, accusing the tabloid publisher of invading their privacy.
The court's written judgment, published after an 11-week trial, stated that the 'claimants failed to prove their pleaded allegations... the claims are therefore dismissed.' The ruling was delivered just as Harry attended an event in London, marking a significant loss for the prince.
Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, hailed the ruling as an 'overwhelming victory' and a 'magnificent vindication of the Daily Mail's journalism.' The company stated that the court's dismissal of 'every single one of the 97 allegations made by the claimants' showed that Judge Matthew Nicklin had 'accepted the honesty of our journalists' evidence on how they sourced their stories.'
The allegations against the tabloid publisher included claims of bugging people's cars and homes, listening to calls, and accessing bank accounts without permission. However, Associated Newspapers described these allegations as 'lurid' and 'preposterous,' with 'no credible evidence' ever presented.
Harry will now face another court hearing on July 29-30, which could see him and the six other complainants ordered to pay substantial legal costs. The prince's spokesperson has yet to release a statement on the ruling.
It is worth noting that Prince Harry has a history of taking legal action against British tabloids, including a recent case over his police protection in Britain. The prince has been living in California with his wife, Meghan, and their children, and has been vocal about his frustration with the media.
The loss in this case comes just as Harry begins a five-day trip back to the UK, where he will attend an Invictus Games event in central London.
In a further twist, Prince Harry's estranged brother, Prince William, was also in the city, visiting the London Welsh School to promote next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The trip, which was meant to be a family affair, will now proceed without Prince Harry's wife, Meghan, and their children, after the family was refused police protection.
'We will look to resolve outstanding issues, including the recovery of the costs we have incurred,' said a spokesperson for Associated Newspapers. '<