Prince Harry's bitter legal battle against NGN set to go to trial in 2025

NGN's tabloid media includes The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World.

It is one of four cases the Duke of Sussex is pursuing against British tabloid media through the courts in the UK.

Harry's civil case against NGN was originally expected to go to trial in 2024.

However, court fillings at a preliminary hearing today indicate that the trial will now begin in January 2025.

Earlier this year, a High Court judge ruled that part of the Duke of Sussex’s damages claim against NGN over allegations of unlawful information gathering could go ahead.

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that the Duke of Sussex could not bring his claim against NGN in relation to phone hacking.

However, the judge said the rest of his claim, relating to other allegations of unlawful information gathering such as use of private investigators, could go to trial.

He refused to allow Prince Harry to amend his case to rely on a "secret agreement" between Buckingham Palace and senior NGN executives.

The judge concluded in his ruling: "I am satisfied that there is no reasonable prospect of the duke proving at trial that he did not know and could not with reasonable diligence have discovered facts that would show that he had a worthwhile claim for voicemail interception in relation to each of the News of the World and The Sun."

Mr Justice Fancourt added: "He already knew that in relation to the News Of The World, and he could easily have found out by making basic inquiries that he was likely to have a similar claim in relation to articles published by The Sun."

Harry alleges he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for News Group Newspapers titles The Sun and the now-defunct News Of The World.

NGN, which denies any unlawful activity took place at The Sun, had previously asked a judge to throw out Harry's case, arguing it has been brought too late.

A spokesperson for NGN said following the ruling: "The High Court has today, in a significant victory for News Group Newspapers, dismissed The Duke of Sussex’s phone hacking claims against both the News Of The World and The Sun.

"As we reach the tail end of litigation, NGN is drawing a line under disputed matters, some of which date back more than 20 years ago.

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"In arguing his case, the Duke of Sussex had alleged a ‘secret agreement’ existed between him/Buckingham Palace and NGN which stopped NGN from asserting that the duke’s claim had been brought too late.

"The Judge, Mr Justice Fancourt, found his claims in relation to the alleged ‘secret agreement’ were not plausible or credible. It is quite clear there was never any such agreement and it is only the Duke who has ever asserted there was.

"Mr Justice Fancourt then dismissed the duke’s phone hacking claims against both the News Of The World and The Sun on the grounds that the claim had been brought too late.

"This substantially reduces the scope of his legal claim. The exact nature and scope of any trial of the remainder will be the subject of further hearings."