Prince Harry arrived at London's High Court on 19 January 2026 for a nine-week trial against Associated Newspapers Ltd, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. He entered the Royal Courts of Justice shortly after 10:00 GMT, ahead of the trial's opening at 10:30 GMT. The Prince Harry court case marks his final legal action against UK newspaper publishers.

Harry sues alongside six others, including Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, and Sadie Frost. They allege the publisher hired private investigators to bug cars, blag medical records, and access phone conversations. The media group denies these claims, describing them as "lurid" and "preposterous".

Background on Royal's Media Battles

The Prince Harry court case follows his previous lawsuits against Mirror Group Newspapers and News Group Newspapers. In December 2023, the High Court ruled Mirror Group hacked Harry's phone and awarded him £140,600 in damages. Last year, in January 2025, News Group settled with Harry, paying substantial damages and apologising for intrusions into his and Princess Diana's lives.

Harry views these actions as a personal mission, blaming media for his mother's 1997 death in a Paris car crash. The trial could shape media accountability, as media lawyer Mark Stephens told AFP: "This case is going to be more about tomorrow's accountability for the media more generally." Harry plans to testify on 22 January 2026, with others following in subsequent weeks.

This visit to the UK is rare for Harry, who left royal duties in 2020 and now lives in California with his family. No meetings with King Charles III are planned during this trip.

Responses from Parties Involved

Associated Newspapers rejects the allegations outright. Harry's testimony is scheduled for Thursday, but no direct quotes from him appear in the source. Elton John and others have not provided immediate comments in the article.