Prince Harry’s long-awaited trial against the publisher of The Sun is set to open on January 21, 2025, marking a significant chapter in his relentless battle against what he views as the invasive and unethical practices of the British press. This lawsuit follows decades of legal turmoil surrounding the sensationalist tactics of tabloid newspapers, which were once at the forefront of media culture in the UK, shaping public opinion while often engaging in unlawful behaviour to gather stories.
The case underscores the prince’s broader fight against the press that, he argues, has not only caused personal harm but has contributed to family division, exacerbated the trauma surrounding his late mother, Princess Diana, and inflicted distress upon his wife, Meghan Markle.
Key moments in the ongoing saga that has shaped Prince Harry’s legal journey include several landmark incidents.
November 2005
Murdoch’s News of the World publishes a story about Prince William’s knee injury. A complaint from Buckingham Palace triggers an investigation, revealing that the story was sourced from a voicemail that had been hacked, leading to the first public acknowledgment of tabloid misconduct.
January 2007
Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, hired by News of the World, is sentenced to six months in prison for intercepting phone messages left on the phones of royal aides, including those of Prince William and his then-girlfriend, Kate Middleton. The scandal causes widespread outcry, but Murdoch’s company initially claims that the hacking was carried out by rogue employees without editorial oversight.
January 2011
A fresh investigation into phone hacking is launched by British police, following claims from News of the World that it had unearthed new evidence of misconduct.
April 2011
The News of the World finally admits to liability for phone hacking. The scandal prompts the paper to settle with actress Sienna Miller for £100,000. Over time, News Corporation, Murdoch’s media empire, would pay settlements to numerous celebrities, politicians, and public figures, though it has never acknowledged hacking by The Sun.
July 2011
The Guardian newspaper reveals that News of the World journalists had hacked the phone of Milly Dowler, a missing 13-year-old girl, while police were still searching for her. The public outrage over this revelation leads to the newspaper’s closure after 168 years of publication.
November 2012
A judge-led inquiry into media ethics, instigated by then-Prime Minister David Cameron, condemns the outrageous behaviour of the press and calls for a new regulatory framework. Despite the call for action, the recommendations for stricter regulation have only been partially implemented.
October 2013
Ex-News of the World editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks stand trial for phone hacking and illegal payments to public officials. While Coulson is convicted and sentenced to 18 months in prison, Brooks is acquitted, eventually returning to lead Murdoch’s British operations.
December 2015
Prosecutors announce that no further criminal charges will be filed against Murdoch’s company or its employees over the hacking scandals. Both News of the World and The Sun continue to face legal settlements.
2019 onwards
Prince Harry takes legal action against three major British newspaper groups—Murdoch’s News Group, the Mirror Group, and Associated Newspapers—claiming that his private information was obtained through unlawful means, including hacking, deception, and surveillance. The prince claims that his life, from his schooldays to his relationships, has been intrusively documented through illegal methods.
February 2021
Meghan Markle, Harry’s wife, wins a privacy lawsuit against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers for the publication of a personal letter she wrote to her estranged father. This victory provides Harry with further momentum in his legal battle against the press.
June 2023
In a historic move, Harry becomes the first British royal in over a century to testify in court during his case against the Mirror Group, providing a personal insight into the extent of the press’s intrusion into his life.
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December 2023
Harry wins his case against the Mirror Group, with a judge ruling that the publisher had engaged in phone hacking and hired private investigators to snoop on his personal life. Harry is awarded £140,000 in damages and legal costs.
February 2024
The Mirror Group agrees to settle outstanding claims and pay Harry undisclosed damages, marking another legal victory for the prince.
January 21, 2025
Harry’s lawsuit against The Sun is set to commence, with the prince expected to testify in person during a 10-week trial. This trial represents the final chapter of a long-standing legal campaign against tabloid misbehaviour, with Harry continuing his fight for justice against media practices he believes have caused irreversible harm to his family and his own life.
As Harry’s case against Associated Newspapers, which publishes The Sun, Mail Online, and Daily Mail, remains ongoing, the prince’s resolve to confront the British media remains unwavering. His mission, he says, is far from over.
