The Duke of Sussex Set to Return to UK for Legal Battle Against British Newspapers
Prince Harry is anticipated to make his way back to the United Kingdom to provide evidence in his ongoing legal dispute against British newspaper publishers. The High Court trial is scheduled for next week, only a short time after his attendance at his father’s coronation as the King.
Prince Harry will take the stand as part of a trial that includes several high-profile individuals seeking compensation from Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). The claims revolve around alleged illicit information-gathering practices, including phone hacking, carried out by MGN and its publications.
This appearance in court marks a significant event, as it is believed to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally participated in legal proceedings since 2002 when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.
The duke’s presence at his father’s coronation marked his first public appearance alongside the royal family since his controversial memoir, Spare, in which he openly criticized his relatives. Following the historic ceremony, Harry wasted no time and swiftly returned to California, where he reunited with his wife Meghan, their daughter Lilibet, and their son Archie, who celebrated his fourth birthday on the day of the coronation, May 6.
Shortly after the coronation, the Sussexes made headlines once again when their spokesperson alleged that the couple, along with Meghan’s mother, had experienced a harrowing car chase orchestrated by an aggressive group of paparazzi after attending an awards ceremony in New York, where the duchess received recognition for her work.
MGN, the publisher behind the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People, is currently contesting the claims brought forth by Prince Harry and other individuals. The allegations assert that MGN journalists were involved in voicemail interception, deceptive information-gathering practices, and the hiring of private investigators for unlawful activities.
Prince Harry is among the four representative claimants whose cases have been selected for this trial. The others include Coronation Street actors Michael Turner and Nikki Sanderson, as well as comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife, Fiona Wightman.
The duke is expected to be present at court for the commencement of his case against MGN on Monday, with his testimony scheduled for Tuesday. Given the strained relationship with his brother, the Prince of Wales, and the King, it is unlikely that Harry will spend much time with his relatives during his brief visit to the capital.
While it is believed that Prince Harry still has access to Frogmore Cottage in Berkshire, the property where he resided previously, it remains uncertain whether he will choose to utilize it. Currently, he resides in Montecito, California, with Meghan and their children, having stepped down as working royals to pursue a life of financial independence.
