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Prince Harry at the High Court© Getty

Prince Harry to make second UK trip after surprise court appearance

The Duke of Sussex appeared at the High Court last week

Danielle Stacey
Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
April 5, 2023
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The Duke of Sussex is expected to return to the High Court in London in June to give evidence in his claim against a tabloid newspaper publisher over phone-hacking allegations.

On this occasion, Prince Harry will be one of a number of high-profile figures bringing damages against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles.

At a preliminary hearing on Wednesday, Julian Santos, for Harry and other figures bringing claims, said all the witnesses on their side would be giving evidence in person.

"The claimants are not applying for any of their witnesses to give evidence via video link," Mr Santos told the High Court in London.

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Prince Harry made three appearances at the High Court last week© Getty
Prince Harry made three appearances at the High Court last week

MGN is contesting the claims, arguing that some have been brought too late.

Other celebrities involved include singer and former Girls Aloud member Cheryl, the estate of the late singer George Michael, ex-footballer and television presenter Ian Wright and actor Ricky Tomlinson.

MGN – publisher of titles including The Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – has previously settled a number of claims against it in relation to unlawful information gathering, as has News Group Newspapers (NGN) – publisher of the now-defunct News Of The World and The Sun – in a separate ongoing legal action.

This means the Duke, who is expected to give evidence, will make a second visit to the High Court this year.

Harry made a surprise appearance at the High Court last week to attend a four-day preliminary hearing in his separate privacy case against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL). See what he had to say as he made his first appearance at the London court...

WATCH: Harry makes first surprise appearance at the High Court

The Duke is one of seven high-profile claimants, including Sir Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley, bringing claims over allegations (ANL) carried out or commissioned illegal or unlawful information-gathering.

The allegations – which are denied – include the hiring of private investigators to place listening devices inside cars and the accessing and recording of private phone conversations.

It's not known whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend King Charles's coronation on 6 May, which falls on Archie's fourth birthday. 

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