- - Prince Harry Takes the Stand in High-Stakes Court Battle Against U.K. Tabloids

Simon PerryJanuary 21, 2026 at 5:12 AM

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Prince Harry arrives at the High Court in London on Jan. 21, 2026 -

Prince Harry returned to London’s High Court to take the witness stand, giving testimony in his final active lawsuit against the British media on Wednesday, Jan. 21

The Duke of Sussex is the first witness called in the nine-week case against the publishers of the Daily Mail

Ahead of the trial, Harry’s spokesperson said he was “feeling confident and ready” as proceedings began

Prince Harry took his place in the High Court in London on Jan. 21 as his final active lawsuit against the British media moved forward, bringing years of litigation over alleged illegal newsgathering to a head.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, was the first witness called in the high-profile case, which he and six others have brought against the publishers of the Daily Mail. Dressed in a black suit and his Household Regiment Guards tie — in the colors of the Blues and Royals — Harry was called at the start of the day’s session in Court 76.

Harry arrived at the court building shortly after 11 a.m. local time. He appeared relaxed and smiled briefly, acknowledging the photographers, as he arrived, an hour later than the previous days due to the fact that he is giving evidence a day earlier than originally planned. He was set to take the stand on Jan. 22, but the Associated Newspapers’ lawyer wrapped his opening statement much more quickly than scheduled.

The Duke of Sussex was called to the stand by his lawyer David Sherborne. Harry, holding a large pad of lined paper and a small bottle of water, walked around to the witness stand where he was asked to swear on oath on a Bible to tell "the whole truth."

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Prince Harry arrives at court in London

The other claimants include Elton John, Elizabeth Hurley and Jude Law's ex-wife, Sadie Frost. Together, they accuse Associated Newspapers — publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday — of using unlawful methods to gather information.

Harry’s claims center on 14 articles published between 2001 and 2013. The nine-week trial, overseen by Mr. Justice Nicklin, is expected to cost more than $50 million.

At one point during Harry's testimony, Anthony White, lawyer for Associated Newspapers, mentioned that the prince hadn't made a complaint about any of the articles at the time.

He agreed, saying, "Not that I am aware of," before pointing out that the “institution” he was part of at the time — a reference to the working royal family and Buckingham Palace — would not allow him to do so, saying they had a rule of “never complain and never explain." "I wasn't allowed to complain," he said.

Associated Newspapers denies the allegations. In court documents, the publisher said the articles were “sourced entirely legitimately,” citing information provided by contacts of journalists — including individuals in Harry’s social circle — as well as press officers, publicists, freelance journalists, photographers and prior reporting.

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Prince Harry flashes a thumbs up as he arrives at court in London

On Jan. 20, the publisher’s lawyer White told the court that its journalists would “provide a compelling account of legitimate sourcing,” adding that the defense would call numerous reporters — “all of which, or many, would have to be deliberately lying if the claimants’ case was sound.”

That same day, Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne said that public interest in the royal family was "huge" and that “no one sold more copy than the Duke of Sussex.”

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The lawsuit repeatedly references Harry’s former girlfriend Chelsy Davy, whom he dated on and off from 2004 to 2011. Many of the disputed articles focus on their relationship, private communications and travel. Harry argues that the level of detail published about their time together could only have come from unlawfully obtained private information and says the coverage placed significant strain on the relationship.

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Chelsy Davy and Prince Harry in April 2007 in Antigua

Sherborne added that Harry believes he was subjected to a “sustained campaign of attacks” for standing up to the newspaper group, emphasizing that the case is about "uncovering the truth" rather than seeking damages.

Just ahead of his arrival in London, Harry’s spokesperson told PEOPLE that he was “feeling confident and ready” going into the trial — the last in a series of lawsuits he has brought against U.K. publishers.

In written submissions, Harry says the articles had a “profoundly distressing effect,” leaving him “paranoid beyond belief,” fostering distrust and suspicion, and isolating him from those around him. The filings also say the alleged reporting was “terrifying” for those close to him and placed a “massive strain” on his personal relationships.

“I find it deeply troubling that Associated used phrases such as ‘sources,’ ‘friends’ and the like as a device to hide unlawful information gathering,” Harry said in a statement included in the submission.

“This is the culmination of what has been years of litigation,” a source previously told PEOPLE. “He sees this as an injustice that needs to be righted.”

It's not the first time Harry has taken the stand. In 2023, he made history when he became the first senior royal in more than a century to testify in court, appearing as a witness in a separate case against the British press.

Harry has pursued multiple legal cases against British media organizations. In January 2025, he reached a settlement with the publisher of The Sun, which paid an eight-figure sum following allegations of illegal information gathering. A year earlier, he was awarded damages after a long-running case against the Mirror group.

On Jan. 22, 2025, The Sun’s publisher issued Harry a “full and unequivocal apology” and paid “substantial damages” for phone hacking and privacy invasions — marking the first admission of wrongdoing tied to the tabloid. The apology also acknowledged past intrusions into the private life of Harry’s late mother, Princess Diana.

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