The verdict

The High Court in London has dismissed all claims in a high-profile lawsuit brought by Prince Harry, Elton John, and five other celebrities against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, and MailOnline. Mr Justice Nicklin ruled on 7 July 2026 that none of the 55 contested articles were shown to have been produced through illegal means. The judge said the court could not automatically assume that press material was obtained unlawfully if a lawful and realistic method of acquisition existed. He accepted the evidence of the publisher's witnesses, who gave credible accounts of how each story was sourced.

The allegations

The seven claimants (Prince Harry, Elton John, David Furnish, actors Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost, campaigner Doreen Lawrence, and former Liberal Democrat MP Simon Hughes) filed the lawsuit in 2022. They accused journalists of hacking voicemails, bugging landlines, and illicitly accessing private data such as medical records and bank details over a period spanning 1993 to 2011. Prince Harry contended that 14 articles about him were based on illegally obtained material. The publisher maintained that all information came from legitimate channels: press officers, earlier published reports, or indiscreet acquaintances of the celebrities. The trial opened in January 2026 and lasted three months.

Reactions

A spokesperson for Associated Newspapers described the outcome as "a huge victory for the Daily Mail and its journalists, and for the free press in general."

“It is a wonderful confirmation of the Daily Mail's journalistic integrity. No credible evidence was ever presented to support some of the most shocking allegations made four years ago amid the media fanfare that accompanied the launch of the case.”

Prince Harry, who had flown from California to testify during the trial, was not present for the verdict. He was attending an event at the Chatham House international affairs think tank. During his testimony, he spoke about the toll press coverage had taken on his life and on his wife Meghan, but the judge noted that Harry had limited knowledge of the specific actions at issue in the case.

Costs and next steps

The total value of the claims was reported at around £50 million. British media now estimate the legal costs of the failed action at a similar sum. A court hearing on 29 July will determine who is liable for those costs. Associated Newspapers has said it will seek to recover its expenses.

Harry's legal crusade

Prince Harry has waged a long campaign against British tabloid intrusion. In 2023 he secured damages from Mirror Group Newspapers after a court found that some of its titles had hacked his phone. In 2025, News Group Newspapers apologised for voicemail hacking by the now-defunct News of the World and for unlawful acts by private investigators working for The Sun. The defeat at the High Court is a setback in that broader effort.