Prince Harry's lawsuit against News Group Newspapers for unlawful gathering of private information is set to go to trial in London on Monday. The case involves allegations of phone hacking and other improper practices by British tabloids during the 1990s to early 2010s.
Harry is not expected to testify for the first two weeks of the trial, which will focus on general issues related to the newspapers' practices. His legal team aims to demonstrate that News Group executives concealed evidence of these activities.
Harry is one of only two remaining plaintiffs from an initial group of about 40, with the other being Tom Watson, a former Labour Party deputy leader. Watson alleges that his phone was hacked for political reasons.
Harry has refused to settle, viewing the lawsuit as an opportunity to hold the British press accountable for its actions. He has previously stated that this is a chance for accountability, as he believes he is the last person who can achieve it.
The trial is expected to attract significant attention, especially given Harry's history with the press, which he claims has intruded upon his life. He previously testified in a separate hacking case in June 2023, marking a rare instance of a senior royal taking the stand in court.
Harry's legal team is citing 30 articles from 1996 to 2011 that they claim contain false assertions about his personal life. His lawyer has stated that these claims are untrue.
If Harry continues to reject settlement offers, he risks incurring substantial legal costs if the court does not rule in his favor. However, he appears determined to present his case in open court.
The trial may also scrutinize former News Group executives, including Will Lewis, who is accused of being involved in efforts to conceal evidence of hacking. Lewis has denied any wrongdoing.
News Group's lawyers argue that Harry is attempting to use the trial as a broader public inquiry into phone hacking. A previous attempt to involve Rupert Murdoch in the case was rejected by the judge.
Harry's animosity toward Murdoch stems from the belief that his tabloids contributed to the death of his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. In his memoir, he criticized Murdoch's influence on public discourse and truth.