Prince Harry and other celebrities had sued the publisher Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).Image: keystone
July 7, 2026, 4:41 p.mJuly 7, 2026, 4:41 p.m
The British Prince Harry and six other celebrities have failed in their lawsuit against the publisher of the British tabloid Daily Mail.
In a 436-page written judgment, the judge stated that the plaintiffs had not been able to adequately prove the allegations of unlawful obtaining of information. The lawsuit is therefore dismissed.
Prince Harry (41) and other celebrities, including Elton John (79) and his husband David Furnish, filed a lawsuit against the publisher Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
Essentially, they accused reporters from the Daily Mail of having used illegal research methods for years to generate headlines. The publisher firmly rejected the allegations from the start. The sensational spying process began in January and ended at the end of March.
Prince Harry arrived in London on Monday for a multi-day visit to Great Britain. Although the verdict was announced in writing, this visit to his old home is likely to be emotional for Harry.
What the trial was about
The trial involved, for example, the alleged interception of telephone calls and voice messages as well as the viewing of private documents. Harry came to London in January and testified in court himself. It also got emotional at times: At the end of the statement, the prince’s voice broke as he said to the press: “You have made my wife’s life a complete hell, your honor.”
Pop star Elton John also found drastic words in his statement in February. The publisher’s practices were “abhorrent and beyond any standards of human decency,” he claimed at the time. He and his husband Furnish accused the Daily Mail of spying on phone calls and voicemails and of obtaining intimate documents such as medical records through private investigators.
Not the first trial
Prince Harry, who broke away from the royal inner circle in 2020 and lives in the USA with his wife, Duchess Meghan (44), and their two children, has been waging a real crusade against the “tabloid press”, as the British tabloid press is called, for years.
The fact that he repeatedly testifies is considered an unusual occurrence for a British royal. According to his own statements, he wants to show that the illegal methods were systematic. It was the third lawsuit of this kind for him.
No rapprochement with dad?
Things are likely to be emotional for Harry this week, not just because of the verdict, but also for family reasons. At first it looked as if there might be a rapprochement with his father Charles III. (77) are coming, but now the fronts seem to be hardening again. The relationship between the two has been considered broken for years.
Initially it was said that Harry would arrive with his family for the five-day stay this week and would stay overnight at Buckingham Palace. King Charles hasn’t seen his grandchildren in years. The background is a dispute over how much police protection Harry and his family are still entitled to in Great Britain.
But the palace quickly denied that Harry was supposed to stay overnight in the palace. The offer had expired, it was said – much to Harry’s annoyance, as he announced through his spokesman. (maw/sda/dpa)