Overview
- The nine-week trial began Monday at London’s High Court with seven claimants, including Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and former MP Simon Hughes.
- Harry and the group allege Associated Newspapers used unlawful tactics such as phone hacking, planting listening devices, blagging medical and financial records and obtaining private flight details.
- Associated Newspapers has repeatedly denied wrongdoing, calling the claims preposterous and part of a coordinated attack, and the court previously ruled the claims have a real prospect of succeeding.
- Harry is scheduled to give a full day of evidence on Thursday, with Hurley attending day one in person and John and David Furnish expected to testify remotely later.
- Legal costs have been estimated near £38.8 million but were capped in 2025 at about £4 million for the claimants and £4.5 million for the publisher, and senior royals are engaged in Scotland with no meeting with Harry expected during his London appearance.