Prince Harry's legal battle: Duke's lawyers are back in court

Prince Harry's lawyers are back in the High Court for a pre-trial hearing in preparation for a major legal battle in January, according to local media on Wednesday.

Along with singer Elton John and five other high-profile British figures, Harry is suing Associated Newspapers (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail tabloid, alleging widespread unlawful behaviour.

A report in GB News said that the hearing commenced at 10am, with Justice Nicklin presiding over the privacy case.

The claimants accuse ANL of serious privacy breaches dating back 30 years, ranging from tapping their phones and bugging their homes to obtaining medical records by deception. Among those they say were involved are current national newspaper editors and other senior press figures.

ANL, which publishes the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday and MailOnline, has denied involvement in unlawful practices and described the "lurid claims made by Prince Harry and others" as "simply preposterous". 

Wednesday's hearing aimed to address procedural matters ahead of the full trial, which is scheduled to commence in January.

The claimants are accusing the publisher of commissioning private investigators to install listening devices in vehicles and residences, intercepting and recording private telephone conversations, and obtaining confidential medical records through impersonation.

Harry stepped down from royal life in March 2020. Since then he has successfully sued Mirror Group Newspapers and settled a claim against Rupert Murdoch's UK newspaper group after it admitted unlawful behaviour including intruding into Diana's private life.