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Prince Harry faces new legal battle following Jubilee appearance with Meghan Markle

The couple recently made a whirlwind trip to the UK

Gemma Strong
Online Digital News Director
June 9, 2022
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Just days after returning to his home in Montecito, Prince Harry is about to embark on a new legal battle.

MORE: Mike Tindall reveals royal cousins' secret lunch at Jubilee celebrations

Harry jetted to London to celebrate the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last week, jetting into the UK on Wednesday before leaving with his family on Sunday morning.

WATCH: Inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's stunning Montecito home

But his focus will now be back in Britain following a new update in his libel claim.

READ: Charles Spencer shares poignant family photo following William and Harry's Jubilee reunion

MORE: Mike Tindall shares candid behind-the-scenes details on Prince Louis at the Jubilee

A High Court judge has now begun overseeing a preliminary hearing after the Duke of Sussex made a libel claim against a newspaper publisher over an article about his legal case against the Home Office.

prince harry smile

A High Court judge is overseeing a preliminary hearing in Harry's libel claim

Harry is suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Mail on Sunday, after the paper ran a story following a hearing in Harry's separate High Court claim over his security arrangements when he is in the UK.

READ: Meghan Markle poses with baby daughter Lili at her first birthday party

MORE: A rare look inside Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's chic UK home

The article in question was published in February under the headline, 'Exclusive: How Prince Harry tried to keep his legal fight with the government over police bodyguards a secret … then – just minutes after the story broke – his PR machine tried to put a positive spin on the dispute.'

prince harry car jubilee

Harry is suing Associated Newspapers Limited over an article on his security arrangements claim

In his written claim filed with the court, Harry said the piece had allegedly caused him "substantial hurt, embarrassment and distress which is continuing".

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At a preliminary hearing in London on Thursday, Mr Justice Nicklin will be asked to determine the "natural and ordinary" meaning of parts of the article addressed in the claim. He will also consider whether they are statements of fact or opinion and whether they are defamatory.

prince harry thanksgiving jubilee

Harry and Meghan flew over to the UK last week for the Queen's Jubilee

His judgement is expected to be revealed in writing at a later date.

Barrister Justin Rushbrooke QC, who is leading Harry's legal team, told the judge, in a written case outline, that Harry had brought the claim following a website article and an article in the Mail on Sunday in February.

READ: Here's what Meghan Markle and daughter Lilibet did during their trip to London for the Jubilee

MORE: Inside Prince Harry & Meghan Markle's $6.5m private jet they flew from LA to London in

He argued both articles were "defamatory" and meant that Harry had "lied", had "improperly and cynically" tried to manipulate public opinion, and had "tried to keep his legal fight with the Government secret from the public".

prince harry meghan jubilee

The couple did keep a relatively low-profile during the celebrations

Mr Rushbrooke said Associated Newspapers disputed that the words complained or bore "any meaning defamatory" of Harry.

Harry is bringing a separate claim against the Home Office after being told he would no longer be given the "same degree" of personal protective security when visiting from the US, despite offering to pay for it himself.

prince harry meghan markle

The couple have now returned to their Montecito home

However, Robert Palmer QC, for the Home Office, previously told the court the Duke's offer of private funding was "irrelevant" and that "personal protective security by the police is not available on a privately financed basis".

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