Day one of the privacy trial brought by Prince Harry and six other high-profile claimants against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, focused on opening submissions and allegations of unlawful information gathering spanning decades.
The claimants allege that ANL engaged in a “clear, systematic and sustained” practice of unlawful news gathering between 1993 and beyond 2018. The publisher denies all wrongdoing.
Opening of Proceedings The day began with opening submissions from the claimants’ barrister, David Sherborne.
Prince Harry was present in court throughout the day and is expected to give evidence later in the week.
Sherborne set out the central case: that ANL routinely relied on private investigators, blagging (impersonation to obtain information), covert surveillance, and unlawful access to personal data to source stories. He argued that these practices were not isolated incidents or the actions of rogue individuals, but part of a wider newsroom culture.
Alleged Methods and Investigators Sherborne named several private investigators allegedly linked to ANL, including former police officers and individuals previously associated with phone hacking scandals.
The court heard allegations that these investigators obtained:
Bank and financial records
Medical information
Flight details and seat numbers
Private phone messages and voicemail data
Confidential police information
Specific investigators discussed included John Ross, Jonathan Rees, Gavin Burrows, and others.
Sherborne cited invoices, emails, and witness statements to argue that payments and coded descriptions pointed to unlawful activity.
Doreen Lawrence’s Claims The court examined claims brought by Baroness Doreen Lawrence, mother of Stephen Lawrence. Sherborne said she was targeted by the press while seeking justice for her son’s murder. Five articles published between 1997 and 2007 were highlighted.
Sherborne argued there was no lawful explanation for how journalists obtained details about her private reactions, legal matters, and communications.
The court heard recorded interview evidence from a known blagger who claimed she impersonated journalists from other newspapers to extract information from Lawrence at the request of Daily Mail journalists.
Sadie Frost’s Claims Sherborne then addressed actress Sadie Frost’s claims, which relate to 11 articles and two incidents. One draft article, allegedly written but not published, contained intimate medical details about an ectopic pregnancy and abortion in 2003. Sherborne told the court these details were unknown even to Frost’s close family at the time.
Notes and documents were presented suggesting the involvement of a private investigation firm, including references to medical providers and treatment details. Sherborne described the episode as “incredibly private” and “deeply upsetting.”
The court also heard preliminary references to claims brought by Elton John and David Furnish, who allege intrusion into their private communications and medical details surrounding the birth of their son.
Elizabeth Hurley and Damian Hurley, alleging unlawful access to private information
Simon Hughes, raising concerns about political surveillance Detailed examination of their claims will continue later in the proceedings.
Although Prince Harry’s individual claims were not yet addressed in detail on day one, Sherborne referenced alleged unlawful access to information about Harry and his former girlfriend Chelsy Davy, including flight details obtained while Harry was travelling under a pseudonym. Emails were shown that allegedly demonstrated journalists knowingly receiving unlawfully obtained travel information.
ANL’s Position Associated Newspapers Limited denies all allegations. Its defence, to be presented later, is expected to argue that:
The claims are unsupported by evidence
Any alleged conduct falls outside legal time limits
The publisher did not authorise unlawful information gathering
ANL will have the opportunity to respond fully as proceedings continue. End of Day Court adjourned mid-afternoon as Sherborne was concluding the claims relating to Sadie Frost.
Proceedings will resume tomorrow, with further opening submissions from the claimants and continued examination of individual cases.
Prince Harry and other claimants left court under security at the end of the day.