Overview
- Harry has arrived in the UK described as confident and is expected to testify on Thursday as opening statements begin Monday in the High Court.
- He is joined by six other high-profile claimants, including Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Simon Hughes, with further witness evidence scheduled into February.
- The lawsuit alleges Associated Newspapers used phone hacking, deceptive “blagging,” planted listening devices and even commissioned burglaries; the company denies wrongdoing and calls the claims preposterous.
- A key evidential fault line involves private investigator Gavin Burrows, who has repudiated an earlier statement and alleges his signature was forged, adding uncertainty to parts of the claimants’ case.
- Legal costs were capped at roughly £4 million per side after estimates neared £38.8 million, and media lawyers say a ruling against the publisher could reshape the narrative of modern British tabloid practices.