The Duke of Sussex Appears at High Court for Case Against Mirror Publisher.
Image Credit: Victoria Jones/PA (PA Wire)
The Duke of Sussex appeared at the High Court in London today as his case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror over alleged unlawful information gathering began. The Duke of Sussex, Harry, is suing the Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, claiming that journalists at its titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, known as “blagging” or gaining information by deception and also use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
Harry claimed that 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information about him which was gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of which have been selected to be considered at the trial. MGN is contesting the claims and has not admitted or denied each of them. The publisher also said that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.
Harry’s court appearance comes just over a month after he attended the coronation of his father, King Charles. This is the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the ‘Dangerous Dogs Act’ after her dog bit two children in Windsor Great Park.
On the first day of the trial, lawyers for MGN said that the publisher “unreservedly apologises” to the duke for only one instance of unlawful information gathering and that it accepts that regarding this instance he was entitled to “appropriate compensation”. Andrew Green KC said it was admitted that a private investigator was instructed, by an MGN journalist at The People, to unlawfully gather information about the Duke’s activities at the Chinawhite nightclub one night in February 2004.
The case is ongoing and is expected to last between six to seven weeks. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
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