Overview

• Claimants told the High Court that newly produced invoices include one dated 25 August 2003 titled “Out of Africa Story Royal Party Enqs,” which they say points to blagging of details for a Daily Mail piece on Prince William’s 21st birthday party.
• A separate investigator record allegedly notes a journalist commissioning a “mobile phone conversion” related to Catherine Middleton along with numbers from a “family and friends” list and two occupancy searches linked to her family address.
• Associated Newspapers denies wrongdoing, calls the claims lurid and preposterous, and is asking the court to strike out or limit unparticularised allegations to specific instances involving named journalists or investigators.
• ANL’s lawyers argued some amendments were made too late and pressed for potential strike‑out unless the claimants meet prior directions on particularising when and how they became aware of viable claims.
• Mr Justice Nicklin previously ordered disclosure of documents about payments to potential witnesses, and his forthcoming rulings on pleading scope and disclosure will determine what proceeds to the planned 2026 trial.