Prince Harry and Elton John Sue Daily Mail: Allegations Against Associated Newspapers - Hacking, Bugging, and DeceptionDaily Mail Responds: Publisher Denies ClaimsCourt Hearings: Testimonies from Claimants and JournalistsClaimants’ Argument: Culture of Unlawful JournalismLive EventsMORE STORIES FOR YOU ✕ « Back to recommendation stories I don't want to see these stories because They are not relevant to me They disrupt the reading flow Others SUBMITPublisher’s Defense: Allegations Labeled UnfoundedJudge Matthew Nicklin Prepares Long-Awaited RulingFAQsas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Addas a Reliable and Trusted News Source Add Now! (You can now subscribe to our(You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel: The High Court in London is taking its time before delivering a ruling in the high-profile lawsuit brought by Prince Harry, singer Elton John, and six other public figures against the publisher of the Daily Mail, as per a report.The case, which has been heard over nearly 10 weeks, alleges that Associated Newspapers engaged in widespread unlawful activities, including hacking voicemails, bugging landlines, and obtaining private information by deception, stretching back more than two decades to the early 1990s, as per a Reuters report.The publisher has dismissed the claims as "preposterous smears," as quoted by Reuters.During the proceedings, judge Matthew Nicklin heard testimony from both the claimants and numerous current and former senior journalists at Associated, which also publishes the Mail on Sunday.Lawyers for the claimants, including David Sherborne, argued that the publisher fostered a culture in which journalists employed private investigators to carry out illegal activities.In contrast, the publisher’s lawyer, Antony White, called the claims unsupported, described witnesses as unreliable, and suggested the case was part of a broader conspiracy by those holding a grudge against the press.At the conclusion of the trial, Judge Nicklin said, "The remaining task is, of course, now mine," adding that the "Judgment will take some time. After a short break over Easter ... I will be working on the case and the judgment effectively full-time ... so I won't be doing anything else ... and I will be toiling away on the judgment,” as quoted by Reuters.Prince Harry, Elton John, and five other high-profile figures are the claimants.The case alleges voicemail hacking, bugging of landlines, and obtaining private information by deception.

Source: The Times April 01, 2026 09:26 UTC