Prince Harry vs Daily Mail: Court Hears Unlawful Information Gathering Claims

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LONDON – January 19, 2026

Prince Harry and six other high-profile individuals have accused the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday of concealing the use of unlawful information-gathering techniques.

• A barrister representing prince Harry and others alleges Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) maintained a “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” defense regarding unlawful activity.
• The claimants intend to demonstrate “clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering” over a 20-year period.
• ANL reportedly investigated phone hacking between 2003 and 2005 and found evidence of its use in published stories.
• A journalist described as the “dauphin of phone hacking” allegedly sourced 22 stories for a royal correspondent at the Daily Mail.

The publisher of the Daily Mail and mail on Sunday falsely denied that its journalists used unlawful techniques to obtain stories, a barrister representing Prince Harry and six other individuals alleged in opening submissions at the High Court on Friday.

David Sherborne, representing the claimants, stated that Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) adopted a “hear no evil see no evil speak no evil defence” during the 2012 Leveson public inquiry, claiming there had been no unlawful activity at all, according to reporting from Tom symonds of the BBC.

Sherborne asserted that his clients would prove there was “clear, systematic and sustained use of unlawful information gathering at both the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday” over a 20-year period. He indicated that any success in the case would be a “catastrophe” for the publisher due to its consistent denials.

The court heard that ANL investigated potential phone hacking between 2003 and 2005, uncovering evidence of the practice in some of its stories, Symonds reported. This investigation followed a complaint to police by Baroness Luciana Berger regarding stories about her relationship with Euan Blair, the son of former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Did you know? – The Leveson Inquiry, launched in 2011, investigated phone hacking and police corruption related to the British press. It lead to significant reforms but did not fully address all concerns about unlawful practices.

ANL has disclosed that journalist Lee Harpin,described by Sherborne as the “dauphin of phone hacking,” sourced 22 stories for Katie Nicholl,who was then a royal correspondent at the Daily Mail,Symonds reported.

Why It Matters

This case represents a renewed scrutiny of alleged unlawful practices within the British tabloid press, echoing the phone hacking scandal that engulfed News International over a decade ago. The claims against ANL, a major media association, could have significant legal and reputational consequences, and potentially reshape standards for journalistic ethics and privacy in the United Kingdom.

The case is expected to continue through March.

Reader question – Do you think media organizations have a responsibility to proactively investigate and disclose past unlawful practices, even without a formal complaint?

why: Prince harry and six other individuals-including Baroness Luciana Berger-are suing Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, alleging a long-running pattern of unlawful information gathering. Who: The claimants are represented by barrister David Sherborne, while ANL is defending against the accusations. What: The lawsuit centers on claims that ANL concealed evidence of phone hacking and other illegal practices, despite investigating these issues internally as early as 2003. How: Sherborne alleges ANL maintained a “hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil” defense, denying any wrongdoing during the 2012 Leveson inquiry. Evidence presented includes an internal investigation that uncovered evidence of phone hacking and the involvement of