Judge removes key allegation from the Duke of Sussex’s case against newspaper publisher
Harry’s lawsuit against a major newspaper group has suffered a major setback after a High Court judge ruled that one of his central allegations will not move forward to trial.
On Friday, October 10, the judge dismissed the claim that Associated Newspapers Limited — the publisher of the Daily Mail — had ordered a “burglary to order” more than 30 years ago. The decision means the allegation will not be part of the 2026 trial, according to GB News.
Harry is among seven public figures, including Elton John, Doreen Lawrence, and Elizabeth Hurley, who have accused the publisher of engaging in unlawful practices such as phone tapping, hiring private investigators to plant listening devices, and accessing confidential records.
One of the claims alleged that two Mail on Sunday journalists broke into the home of Michael Ward in 1992 to steal documents. However, Mr Justice Nicklin ruled the incident irrelevant to the case.
“Even if proved true, they cannot assist in the fair resolution of the claimants’ claims,” the judge said. He described the 30-year-old accusation as “a complex and involved side-show,” adding that pursuing it would be disproportionate in cost and time compared with its evidential value.
The trial is set to begin in January 2026. Lawyers for Harry and the other claimants — including David Furnish, Sadie Frost, and Simon Hughes — have said they plan to appeal the ruling.
