United Kingdom

UK: Prince Harry Loses Daily Mail Privacy Case

Is this a vindication of legitimate journalism or does a lack of evidence simply not equal innocence?

Published JUL 7

UK: Prince Harry Loses Daily Mail Privacy Case

Story

Above: Prince Harry arrives at Chatham House in London on July 7. Image credit: Justin Tallis/AFP/Getty Images

The Facts

A U.K. High Court judge dismissed all 97 allegations brought by Prince Harry and six other claimants against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, on Tuesday following an 11-week trial earlier this year.
Chris Ship on X
The Irish Times
GB News
The claimants — including Sir Elton John, his husband David Furnish, actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and former Member of Parliament Simon Hughes — alleged ANL used phone hacking, landline tapping and deception to unlawfully gather private information.
Daily Mail
Independent
Mr. Justice Nicklin ruled the claimants had not met the civil burden of proof, writing that "suspicion, even understandable suspicion, is not proof." He said the allegations were "serious" but noted faded memories and missing documents from decades-old events limited the evidence, and that private information in an article alone did not prove unlawful acquisition.
BBC News
GB News
Sky News
ANL said the judgment was "a magnificent vindication of the Daily Mail's journalism" and that it would seek to recover legal costs, which editor-in-chief Paul Dacre said totalled "well over £50 million."
Guardian
The Sun
BBC News
Justice Nicklin also cited the lack of "credible evidence" given by former private investigator Gavin Burrows, whose 2021 witness statement he later disavowed and alleged contained a fake signature.
Press Gazette
Daily Mail
Prince Harry was attending an Invictus Games event at Chatham House in London when the judgment was published. His lawyer, David Sherborne, was seen entering the venue shortly afterward. ANL said it would seek to recoup costs from the claimants at a hearing scheduled for July 29-30.
Newsweek
GB News

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The High Court's dismissal of all 97 claims against the Daily Mail is a total vindication of legitimate journalism and a broader victory for a free Press generally. A case built on conjecture, convicted fraudsters and decades-old allegations was never going to hold up, and it didn't. Spending over £50 million to prove nothing is the real scandal here.

Daily Mail on X

Daily Mail

Narrative B

Victories in historical cases against Mirror Group and settlements with The Sun concerning nearly identical behavior prove that this judgment's emphasis on "faded memories" completely contradicts recent legal precedent. Despite this, there is some respite that an alleged lack of surviving evidence is not the same as innocence, and ANL's reputation will forever be damaged by its trespasses.

Chris Ship on X