It's a historic moment as Prince Harry will become the first British royal to testify in court since the 1890s.
What is the court case about?
The court case involves Prince Harry and over 100 other individuals who have filed a lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of popular tabloids like the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror, and the Sunday People. Their legal action stems from allegations of extensive illegal activities committed by MGN between 1991 and 2011.
The plaintiffs in the case include actors, sports stars, celebrities, and individuals who had some form of connection to high-profile figures. They claim that MGN's journalists or private investigators, acting on their behalf, engaged in widespread phone-hacking on a massive scale. Additionally, they allege that these individuals obtained their private information through deceptive means and carried out other illicit acts in order to gather personal details about them.
Lawyers representing the claimants assert that senior editors and executives within MGN were aware of and approved these unethical practices. However, MGN disputes these claims and denies that any senior figures were aware of any wrongdoing. The publisher also argues that some of the lawsuits were filed beyond the permissible time limits.
In an earlier hearing, Prince Harry, who is the younger son of King Charles, was selected as one of the four test cases for the trial, which commenced on May 10. His specific case is scheduled to be heard over a span of three days, starting on Monday, during which he is expected to provide evidence related to his claims.
What is phone-hacking?
Phone-hacking refers to the unlawful practice of intercepting voicemails on mobile phones. It gained significant attention in 2006 when the royal editor of Rupert Murdoch's News of the World (NoW) tabloid and a private investigator were arrested for their involvement in this illegal activity.
Both individuals pleaded guilty and were subsequently jailed in 2007. At the time, News of the World and senior figures at Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN) UK operation claimed that the hacking was limited to a rogue reporter.
However, further revelations in 2011, including the targeting of a murdered schoolgirl, led to the closure of the News of the World and a subsequent criminal trial. In 2014, the former editor of News of the World, Andy Coulson, who later worked for ex-Prime Minister David Cameron, was found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones and received a prison sentence. Rebekah Brooks, who oversees Murdoch's UK newspaper and radio operation, was acquitted of all charges.
While the Mirror Group denied allegations of its journalists' involvement in hacking, including during a public inquiry, it admitted liability in four cases in 2014. Since then, Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) has settled over 600 claims, resulting in damages and costs amounting to more than £100 million ($120 million).
What does Harry say the Mirror Group Newspapers did?
Prince Harry alleges that 140 stories published by MGN papers were the result of phone-hacking or other unlawful behavior. However, the ongoing trial is only considering 33 of these cases. According to Harry's legal team, the intrusion caused the breakdown of his relationship with his long-term girlfriend, Chelsy Davy.
In documents released at the beginning of the trial, MGN admitted that private investigators had been instructed to unlawfully gather information about three individuals involved in the test cases, including Harry himself, on at least one occasion. The publisher issued an unreserved apology and acknowledged Harry's entitlement to compensation.
However, MGN has rejected Harry's other claims. In its documents, MGN contends that some of the information had been provided by a former senior aide working for Harry's father.
Why is Harry taking action?
The MGN case is one of four lawsuits that Prince Harry is currently pursuing at the High Court against British newspapers. He is also suing Murdoch's NGN, publisher of the Sun tabloid and the now-defunct News of the World, over allegations of phone-hacking and other unlawful acts. NGN denies any wrongdoing and is seeking to have Harry's case dismissed.
In addition, Prince Harry, along with singer Elton John and five others, is suing Associated Newspapers (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, for phone-hacking and breaches of privacy. ANL denies engaging in any unlawful activity.
Furthermore, Harry has initiated a separate libel lawsuit against ANL.
In a statement regarding the NGN case, Harry emphasized that his actions were not solely about phone-hacking but rather about holding those in power accountable. He expressed his belief that the press is too important to be influenced by "criminals masquerading as journalists."
