Prince Harry and five other public figures have lost a High Court bid to challenge the publisher of the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, and MailOnline over alleged unlawful information-gathering.
In a ruling delivered on Friday, Mr Justice Fancourt dismissed the claim brought by the Duke of Sussex and the other individuals, who had alleged that Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) had engaged in systematic privacy intrusions. The claimants sought damages for breaches of privacy, accusing ANL of employing private investigators to unlawfully obtain sensitive personal information.
The High Court case was one of several legal actions initiated by Prince Harry against UK newspapers. These legal battles have been ongoing for years, with the Duke of Sussex frequently expressing his commitment to fighting what he describes as tabloid intrusion.
This particular ruling represents a setback for Harry and the other claimants in their efforts to hold the publisher accountable for alleged privacy violations through their newspapers.
The decision by Mr Justice Fancourt means the claimants must pay ANL's legal costs, with a preliminary hearing to determine the exact sum to be scheduled soon.