LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM — Prince Harry has lost his high-profile legal battle against the publisher of the Daily Mail over allegations of unlawful information gathering, marking another setback in his long-running disputes with British media organisations.
In a written judgment released by the High Court in London on Tuesday, Judge Matthew Nicklin dismissed the claims brought by the Duke of Sussex and other complainants, ruling that they had failed to prove the allegations presented during the 11-week trial.
The case involved accusations against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, including claims of unlawful surveillance, phone interception, and misuse of private information.
Following the ruling, Associated Newspapers described the decision as an “overwhelming victory” and said the judgment cleared the reputation of its journalists. The publisher stated that all 97 allegations made by the claimants were rejected by the court.
The company had denied the accusations, describing claims involving alleged bugging of vehicles and homes, illegal access to financial information, and other forms of intrusion as unsupported by credible evidence.
There was no immediate public response from Prince Harry’s representatives.
The judgment was delivered as Harry attended an event in London connected to the Invictus Games, the international sporting competition for wounded and injured military personnel that he founded in 2014.
The latest ruling is the third and final legal case brought by Harry against British tabloid publishers as part of his wider campaign over media intrusion. The decision could also expose him and the other claimants to substantial legal costs at a further hearing scheduled for July 29 and 30.
Associated Newspapers said it had spent millions of pounds defending the case and would seek recovery of legal expenses.
The court battle comes during Harry’s five-day visit to the United Kingdom, where he is expected to attend events marking the one-year countdown to the next Invictus Games in Birmingham.
The visit has again highlighted ongoing tensions surrounding Harry’s security arrangements after he and his family lost publicly funded protection following his departure from frontline royal duties in 2020.
Harry, who now lives in California, has previously spoken about his concerns over media intrusion, particularly in relation to the death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.
The prince has also expressed a desire to rebuild his relationship with members of the Royal Family, including his father, King Charles III, though their relationship has remained strained in recent years.
