Overview

• Mr Justice Nicklin ruled the 1992 Michael Ward “burglary to order” allegation will not be tried, calling it a complex and disproportionate side-show.
• He refused a late attempt to add a claim that a private investigator targeted the Princess of Wales’s phone, citing the case’s proximity to trial.
• The court will exclude efforts to prove unlawful information gathering was widespread at ANL to prevent a public‑inquiry‑style process.
• Lawyers for Prince Harry and the six other claimants say they intend to appeal the exclusion of the burglary allegation.
• A High Court trial is expected in January 2026 after further preliminary hearings next month, with claimants permitted to cite prior misconduct by a journalist at other titles.