In his witness statement for the trial, the Duke of Sussex said he has always had an \u201cuneasy relationship\u201d with the press, PA reports.<\/p>\n
He said:<\/p>\n
Following the death of my mother in 1997 when I was 12 years old and her treatment at the hands of the press, I have always had an uneasy relationship with them.<\/p>\n
However, as a member of the institution the policy was to \u2018never complain, never explain\u2019.<\/p>\n
There was no alternative; I was conditioned to accept it. For the most part, I accepted the interest in my performing my public functions.<\/p>\n
Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.07 EST<\/p>\n Key events<\/p>\n Show key events only<\/p>\n Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature<\/p>\n The Duke of Sussex has said he did not complain about some of the articles at the centre of his claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail \u201cbecause of the institution I was in\u201d.<\/p>\n Antony White KC, for ANL, said: \u201cYou tell us that you were aware of some but not all of the 14 articles that you complain of in these proceedings at the time they were published.\u201d<\/p>\n The duke replied: \u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n White then said that the duke \u201cdid not complain and no complaint was made on your behalf\u201d about the articles Harry was aware of, to which he said: \u201cNot that I am aware of.\u201d<\/p>\n White continued: “\u201cThat is because you believed, at the time that the articles were published, in so far as you saw them, that the information they contained came from legitimate sources.\u201d<\/p>\n The duke replied: \u201cTo a certain extent, but I would not have been able to complain about them anyway, because of the institution I was in.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n When asked by Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers<\/a> Limited, the Duke of Sussex said it was \u201cpretty convincing\u201d that journalists had sourced information about him from his friends at the time they were published.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cThat was the way the articles had been written, a source said this, an insider said this.\u201d<\/p>\n White also said \u201cpeople did sometimes provide information\u201d.<\/p>\n The duke replied: \u201cIt\u2019s probably helpful to put some context. When you are in a situation like this, the moment something private is out, your circle of trust and knowledge decreases over time.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cThe stuff in these articles is not the kind of stuff I would talk about openly.\u201d<\/p>\n For context, Associated\u2019s legal team said in written submissions that the stories had been obtained \u201centirely legitimately from information variously provided by contacts of the journalists responsible, including individuals in the Duke of Sussex\u2019s social circle, press officers and publicists, freelance journalists, photographers and prior reports\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n In his witness statement for the trial, the Duke of Sussex said he has always had an \u201cuneasy relationship\u201d with the press, PA reports.<\/p>\n He said:<\/p>\n Following the death of my mother in 1997 when I was 12 years old and her treatment at the hands of the press, I have always had an uneasy relationship with them.<\/p>\n However, as a member of the institution the policy was to \u2018never complain, never explain\u2019.<\/p>\n There was no alternative; I was conditioned to accept it. For the most part, I accepted the interest in my performing my public functions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.07 EST<\/p>\n David Sherborne, representing Harry and the group of household names bringing the claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail, asked the Duke of Sussex how he would like to be addressed, and if this would be as \u201cYour Royal Highness\u201d.<\/p>\n Harry replied: \u201cSame as last time.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked how that was, Harry added: \u201cI can\u2019t remember\u201d.<\/p>\n This prompted laughter from those assembled in the packed courtroom, with Sherborne confirming it was as \u201cPrince Harry\u201d.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, Justice Nicklin has returned to the courtroom and the duke has returned to the witness box after the audio issues on the remote video link were resolved.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n There is a short interruption before the Duke of Sussex begins giving evidence due to issues with audio on the remote video link, which is being used by dozens of people to follow proceedings.<\/p>\n Justice Nicklin said he would leave court for a few minutes, saying: \u201cIf I can\u2019t remedy it, I think I need to remedy that.\u201d<\/p>\n He continued: \u201cWe will try to get it fixed, and I am sorry for the interruption.\u201d<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The Duke of Sussex has stepped into the witness box to give evidence in his legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail.<\/p>\n Wearing a dark suit and striped tie, Harry swore on the Bible while taking the oath, PA reports.<\/p>\n Harry is expected to give evidence for a day, with Antony White KC, for Associated Newspapers<\/a> Limited (ANL), cross-examining him before his barrister, David Sherborne, asks him some questions.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n The third day of the trial of the Duke of Sussex\u2019s legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail has begun at the High Court.<\/p>\n The duke is due to give evidence on Wednesday, where he will be cross-examined by the publisher\u2019s barristers.<\/p>\n The trial before Justice Nicklin at the Royal Courts of Justice in London is due to conclude in March.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Analysis: high-stakes trial could have profound effects on UK media<\/p>\n My colleague Geraldine McKelvie offered an insight into the potential impact of the trial in a piece published this weekend:<\/p>\n On Monday, Prince Harry\u2019s legal war with the Daily Mail, one of the British media\u2019s most formidable forces, finally came to trial in court 76 of the high court in London.<\/p>\n The prince is joined in his action<\/a> by some of the most recognisable figures in British life: the singer and songwriter Elton John and his husband, David Furnish; actors Liz Hurley and Sadie Frost; Doreen Lawrence, a Labour peer whose son Stephen was murdered in a racist attack; and former politician Simon Hughes, who once ran to lead the Liberal Democrats.<\/p>\n Their opponent is the publisher of Britain\u2019s bestselling newspaper, with its long-serving editor-in-chief, Paul Dacre, expected to give evidence.<\/p>\n The allegations against the Daily Mail and its stablemate, the Mail on Sunday<\/a>, are grave.<\/p>\n Harry and his fellow claimants allege that, as well as intercepting voicemails, the Daily Mail<\/a> and the Mail on Sunday also tapped landlines, paid corrupt police officers, blagged medical records and even bugged celebrities\u2019 homes.<\/p>\n The titles\u2019 publisher, Associated Newspapers<\/a>, has described the claims as \u201cpreposterous\u201d and an \u201caffront to the hard-working journalists whose reputations and integrity \u2026 are wrongly traduced\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a007.11 EST<\/p>\n Prince Harry arrives at court to give evidence<\/p>\n Prince Harry has arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice in London and is due to begin giving evidence at 11.30am.<\/p>\n He arrived at the court building in a black Range Rover and waved at a row of rain-soaked reporters as he met his legal team.<\/p>\n Here are some photos of the royal arriving:<\/p>\n Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at court during a court case against Associated Newspapers Ltd at The Royal Courts of Justice on January 21, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: Peter Nicholls\/Getty ImagesPrince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at court during a court case against Associated Newspapers Ltd at The Royal Courts of Justice on January 21, 2026 in London, England. Photograph: Peter Nicholls\/Getty ImagesPrince Harry arrives during the first week of a nine-week trial lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail, which Britain\u2019s Prince Harry and others are suing over allegations of privacy breaches dating back 30 years, at the High Court in London, Britain, January 21, 2026. Photograph: Hannah McKay\/ReutersShare<\/a><\/p>\n Updated at\u00a006.27 EST<\/p>\n Prince Harry feels targeted for \u2018standing up\u2019 to Daily Mail publisher<\/p>\n The Duke of Sussex believes he has faced a \u201csustained campaign\u201d of attacks for having \u201cthe temerity to stand up\u201d to the publisher of the Daily Mail<\/a>, the high court heard on Tuesday.<\/p>\n Lawyers for Prince Harry made the claim as they set out 14 articles about him they allege were secured using unlawful information-gathering by Associated Newspapers<\/a> Ltd, which publishes the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday.<\/p>\n Harry will now appear in court today to give evidence \u2013 a day earlier than expected \u2013 as he and six other prominent claimants attempt to disprove the newspaper group\u2019s repeated and vehement denials that it ever engaged in unlawful information-gathering.<\/p>\n David Sherborne, the barrister representing the duke and other claimants, claimed flight details and sensitive information that had serious implications for Harry\u2019s security had been obtained unlawfully.<\/p>\n \u201cIn his witness statement for the trial, the Duke of Sussex speaks of the impact which this has had on him, the distress, the paranoia and the other feelings that it generated,\u201d Sherborne told the high court in London.<\/p>\n \u201cBut given what we\u2019ve seen, is it any wonder that he feels that way, or as he explains, that he feels he has endured a sustained campaign of attacks against him for having had the temerity to stand up to Associated in the way that he has so publicly done?\u201d<\/p>\n The duke\u2019s concern about his treatment emerged as Sherborne set out key parts of the case against the publisher. He highlighted articles he said bore the \u201challmarks of unlawful information-gathering\u201d.<\/p>\n Share<\/a>Prince Harry due to give evidence in court at 11.30am<\/p>\n Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of Prince Harry<\/a> v Daily Mail, on the day that that the former is due to give evidence in court.<\/p>\n A spokesman for Harry said the duke was expected at court at 11am and would start giving evidence at 11.30am.<\/p>\n Harry, Elton John and his husband David Furnish, campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence, politician Simon Hughes, and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley are all bringing legal action against Associated Newspapers<\/a> Limited (ANL) over allegations of unlawful information gathering.<\/p>\n This includes claims that information for articles was obtained by carrying out or commissioning unlawful activities such as phone tapping and \u201cblagging\u201d private records. ANL has strongly denied wrongdoing and is defending the claims.<\/p>\n We will be bringing you updates throughout the day.<\/p>\n