Prince Harry’s Legal Battle Against Rupert Murdoch’s UK Publishing Arm
Prince Harry and several high-profile figures faced a setback on Tuesday in their attempt to include direct claims against Rupert Murdoch in their lawsuit over unlawful information-gathering practices by his UK publishing arm.
Harry is among numerous claimants suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), accusing journalists and private investigators from The Sun tabloid of repeatedly targeting them. Last month, High Court judge Timothy Fancourt allowed the lawsuit against NGN to move forward, potentially leading to a trial next year.
However, on Tuesday, Judge Fancourt dismissed requests to add new allegations that Murdoch, 93, had direct knowledge of these unlawful practices. He stated, “I have refused permission for new allegations against Rupert Murdoch personally and some other senior executives, as these add nothing to the allegations already made against other senior executives at NGN and its parent companies.”
The case involves other notable claimants, including filmmaker Guy Ritchie, former senior politicians, and campaigner Doreen Lawrence, whose son Stephen was murdered in a racist attack in London in 1993.
Last month, actor Hugh Grant settled his claim against NGN to avoid a potential legal bill amounting to millions of pounds. NGN, denying any illegal activity, stated the claim was settled “without admission of liability” and that avoiding a costly trial was in the financial interests of both parties.
This case is one of several legal actions Prince Harry has initiated against UK newspaper publishers. Earlier this year, he settled a long-running lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over allegations that its journalists used deceptive and unlawful methods, including phone hacking. Additionally, Harry is pursuing legal action against Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday.
Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, stepped back from royal duties and relocated to the United States in 2020.
