Prince Harry Expands Privacy Suit Against Associated Newspapers

Prince Harry is one of seven high-profile claimants, including Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Sadie Frost, Elizabeth Hurley, Sir Simon Hughes and Baroness Lawrence, suing Associated Newspapers (publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday) in the High Court over alleged decades-long unlawful information gathering by private investigators, including phone-hacking, burglary and "blagging." At a preliminary hearing on Oct. 1, Harry’s barrister David Sherborne cited invoices and records — notably an Aug. 25, 2003 entry titled "Out of Africa Story Royal Party Enqs" — and entries from retired investigator Steve Whittamore that are said to link the Mail to detailed coverage of Prince William’s 21st birthday and to mobile-phone data, occupancy searches and family-contact lists relating to Catherine Middleton. Associated Newspapers denies the allegations as "preposterous" or "lurid" and is seeking to strike parts of the claim as time-barred and to limit its scope. A source close to the Duke of Sussex says Harry did not personally decide to name his brother or present the specific disclosure lodged by his lawyers. If proven, the claimants say the case could lead to substantial damages, apologies and renewed scrutiny of tabloid practices tied to the Leveson legacy; if defeated it would be dismissed and could deepen royal tensions.