Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has strongly criticised a British High Court decision after a judge dismissed a major privacy lawsuit he and six other prominent figures brought against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
The ruling, delivered by Mr Justice Nicklin following a 46-day trial, concluded that the claimants failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish that the publisher unlawfully obtained private information through phone hacking, deception, or the use of private investigators. The legal group included high-profile individuals such as Sir Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, and Baroness Doreen Lawrence.
In a joint statement released shortly after the judgment, Prince Harry and Baroness Lawrence described the verdict as a “complete and obvious whitewash,” arguing that the court ignored compelling documentation and inconsistencies in the defence’s arguments. They stated that the ruling represents an unexpected and shocking departure from previous judicial positions taken in parallel media privacy cases.
Despite the significant legal setback, the Duke of Sussex appeared publicly hours later at a scheduled Invictus Games Foundation event at Chatham House in London, where he maintained a positive composure and addressed attendees
The judgment marks a major turning point in Prince Harry’s long-standing legal campaigns against the British tabloid press. A follow-up hearing is scheduled for later this month to resolve outstanding legal matters and potential costs arising from the decision.
