Prince Harry loses phone hacking case against Daily Mail in High Court ruling

Prince Harry's long campaign against unlawful press activity has suffered a major setback after a High Court ruling sided entirely with Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers.

Judge Matthew Nicklin dismissed all 97 allegations of unlawful activity brought by the Duke of Sussex and fellow claimants, including actors Liz Hurley and Elton John with his husband David Furnish, plus Baroness Doreen Lawrence. The judgment concluded that the claimants had failed to prove information had been obtained unlawfully.

The ruling is expected to conclude years of litigation that began with a 2022 lawsuit alleging the Mail engaged in phone-hacking, voicemail interception, landline tapping, and "blagging"—obtaining information through deception.

A costly defeat

The outcome carries serious financial consequences. Associated Newspapers is likely to seek recovery of its legal costs, which court observers suggest could amount to approximately £50 million for all plaintiffs combined.

In his judgment, Justice Nicklin made a pointed observation about Harry's testimony, noting that "in assessing Prince Harry's evidence overall, it was apparent that he wished the court to understand the personal impact of the matters in issue. At times, this led him beyond giving factual evidence into advancing arguments on the issues."

A contrasting record

The defeat stands in stark contrast to Harry's recent legal fortunes. In December 2023, he won a civil case against Mirror Group Newspapers, with a judge finding that 15 of 33 articles examined were written using phone-hacking and other illegal methods. The court ruled there was evidence of "widespread and habitual" phone-hacking at Mirror titles, and Harry was awarded £140,600 in damages.

"This case is not just about hacking – it is about a systemic practice of unlawful and appalling behaviour," Harry said following that victory.

In January 2025, Harry also accepted an apology and a reported £10 million settlement from the Sun newspaper for "serious intrusion" into his private life. His legal team described that outcome as vindication for "the hundreds of other claimants who were strong-armed into settling, without being able to get to the truth of what was done to them."

The personal toll

Harry has testified publicly about the emotional impact of media coverage. He has previously stated that press culture contributed to the death of his mother, Princess Diana, describing it as one of "exploitation and unethical practices."

In his testimony against the Daily Mail, Harry told the court that the newspaper's coverage had been "terrifying" and left him "really worried something bad was going to happen." He said it made his life "an absolute misery."

The case represents a reversal in what has been a mixed legal record for the Duke in his disputes with British media outlets over the past two years.