In a recent ruling, Prince Harry has encountered a major setback in his legal battle against Associated Newspapers.
The judge’s decision represents a blow to Harry’s case, but the fight is far from over.
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Let’s revisit Prince Harry’s disastrous testimony during his Corps Performance last year, where he professed his love for his ex Chelsea, claimed his phone was hacked without evidence, and even admitted to not owning a cell phone at the time.
Now, thanks to a recent ruling, it seems we can expect a second performance from Harry in the witness box.
Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publishers of the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, and the Mail Online, attempted to have the case dismissed without trial.
Their argument was that the legal challenges were brought too late.
However, Justice Nicklin concluded that the group of claimants, including Prince Harry, Elton John, and Baroness Dorian Lawrence, have a real prospect of demonstrating that ANL concealed relevant facts.
These facts could have allowed them to bring their claims sooner, which ANL vehemently denies.
The claimants allege that ANL engaged in deplorable and illegal activities, such as hiring private investigators to put listening devices on their cars and homes, tapping phone calls, and illegally accessing private medical information.
In a statement released by the law firm Hamlin’s on behalf of the claimants, they expressed delight with the decision that allows their claims to proceed.
They intend to uncover the truth at trial and hold those responsible fully accountable.
On the other hand, ANL firmly denies the allegations, describing them as lurid and preposterous.
While some may view this ruling as a victory for Harry and his team, it is not that simple.
Justice Nicklin also expressed concerns about the claimants potentially breaching a confidentiality order made by the Leveson inquiry 12 years ago.
This raises the possibility of Harry making claims without being able to provide proof, as the evidence he needs may violate the confidentiality of those documents.
ANL sees this ruling as good news for them, as it affirms that the information supplied to the Leveson inquiry remains subject to a restriction order.
They maintain that the claims made by Prince Harry and others are baseless and look forward to establishing this in court.
The group of claimants, including Prince Harry, Elton John, and Elizabeth Hurley, initiated this hacking case in October of last year, citing confessions by private investigator Gavin Burroughs.
However, Burroughs later refuted these claims, leading the judge to caution the claimants about adjusting their expectations.
In March of this year, ANL objected to the claimants using copies of financial ledgers from the publisher of the mail titles, which were treated as confidential during the Leveson inquiry.
These documents are crucial to Harry’s case, but their use would be seen as an abuse of process.
This raises concerns that Harry may find himself making claims without substantial evidence, similar to his previous legal battles.
It is worth noting that celebrities, especially members of the royal family, rarely sue the media due to the potential exposure of their own lives.
Unfortunately, Harry’s pursuit of justice may lead to unintended consequences, as the media may focus on his personal life during the trial.
His right to privacy may be compromised by his own actions in the witness box.
Harry’s decision to pursue a separate lawsuit instead of following his brother’s path and accepting a settlement appears to be ill-advised.
Prince William, who faced more hacking incidents than Harry, accepted a substantial payout and donated it to charity.
Harry’s refusal to settle may prove to be a costly mistake.
As the case against Associated Newspapers continues, there is skepticism about its chances of success.
Another preliminary hearing is scheduled for November 21st, which may shed further light on the future of this legal battle.
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