Home / Crime and Justice / Royals Lose High Court Privacy Battle
Royals Lose High Court Privacy Battle
7 Jul
Summary
- High Court judge dismissed all privacy invasion claims.
- Celebrities accused papers of hacking and bugging from 1990s.
- Legal costs for the 11-week trial were reported at £40 million.
In a significant ruling on Tuesday, a U.K. High Court judge dismissed all hacking and bugging claims filed by Prince Harry and five other public figures. The claimants, including Sir Elton John, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost, and Doreen Lawrence, had accused the publisher of Associated Newspapers Limited of using unlawful methods to gather information for articles. These alleged activities spanned from the 1990s through 2011.
Justice Matthew Nicklin presided over the 11-week trial, ultimately finding that the celebrities' accusations could not be substantiated. Associated Newspapers Limited had previously vehemently denied the allegations, describing them as "preposterous" and asserting that all stories originated from legitimate sources. The company hailed the court's decision as an "overwhelming victory."
The legal battle was extensive, with an estimated £40 million ($53.5 million) spent on legal costs throughout the proceedings.
