Prince Harry Appeals Court Loss
Prince Harry, Elton John, and other prominent British figures filed an application for permission to appeal a High Court ruling that dismissed their unlawful information-gathering lawsuit against the Daily Mail, according to rfi.fr.
The Court of Appeal will now review the case after a judge dismissed the original claims in July. The claimants argue the previous judgments contain errors of both law and fact, as reported by rfi.fr. A spokesperson for the Sheridans law firm confirmed the legal filing on Friday, noting that the group is also appealing the legal costs order requiring them to pay the publisher.
Legal Battle Timeline
The litigation centers on allegations that Associated Newspapers Limited intercepted voicemails and listened to private telephone conversations between 1993 and 2018. Prince Harry and his co-claimants maintain the tabloid obtained their personal information illegally. The initial trial spanned more than two months before the High Court rejected the claims in July, ruling that the plaintiffs failed to prove unlawful data collection.
Other high-profile figures joining Prince Harry in the appeal include actress Sadie Frost, David Furnish, and Doreen Lawrence. Doreen Lawrence is a member of the House of Lords whose son, Stephen Lawrence, was murdered in 1993 in a case that profoundly shocked the United Kingdom, as detailed by rfi.fr. Following the July ruling, Prince Harry condemned the verdict as scandalous and incoherent.
Publisher Response
Associated Newspapers Limited defended the original decision as a crushing victory for the Daily Mail, its journalists, and general press freedom. The publisher maintains its reporting methods complied with the law throughout the multi-decade period examined in court. Prince Harry continues a wider legal campaign against the British tabloid press, which he holds partly responsible for the 1997 death of his mother, Diana, in Paris, according to rfi.fr.
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