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Prince Harry and others suing Associated Newspapers (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail, over alleged unlawful information gathering have been barred by a London High Court judge from including allegations that Prince William’s wife, Kate, was targeted. The claimants sought to add the new allegations before trial, arguing evidence showed the Mail targeted Kate. Judge Nicklin ruled the claims were brought too late. The claimants also alleged details of William’s 21st birthday were obtained through deception, though this wasn’t formally ruled upon. Some irrelevant allegations from the claimants were rejected to prevent the case from becoming an uncontrolled investigation. However, some of ANL’s objections were also refused. The claimants intend to appeal.
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LONDON, Oct 10 (Reuters) – Lawyers representing Prince Harry and other high-profile British figures cannot use allegations about Prince William’s wife Kate being targeted in their privacy lawsuits against the publisher of the Daily Mail, London’s High Court ruled on Friday.
Harry, the younger son of King Charles, and six others including singer Elton John are suing Associated Newspapers (ANL) over alleged unlawful information gathering dating back 30 years.
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ANL, which also publishes the Mail on Sunday and the MailOnline, has always denied any wrongdoing and previously described the claimants’ allegations as “preposterous smears”.
The claimants’ lawyers had sought to amend their case to add a swathe of new allegations for the trial, which is due to begin early next year and could see Harry return to the witness box in his last remaining lawsuit against the British press.
Judge Matthew Nicklin ruled however that the allegation that Kate was targeted by a private investigator on behalf of a Mail journalist was brought too late before trial.
In court filings, the claimants’ legal team also made allegations for the first time that details about William’s 21st birthday party in 2003 were obtained by “blagging” – obtaining confidential details about him by deception.
ANL was also able to throw out some parts of the claimants’ case, with Nicklin saying he would reject irrelevant allegations to stop the case “descending into an uncontrolled and wide-ranging investigation akin to a public inquiry”.
A source familiar with the litigation said the claimants would seek permission to appeal against Friday’s ruling. ANL declined to comment.
Reporting by Sam Tobin and Michael Holden
Editing by Frances Kerry
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