LONDON, 7 July (Ukrmedia) — The High Court in London has dismissed the claim brought by Prince Harry and other British celebrities against the publisher of the Daily Mail. The court found that the allegations of unlawful collection of private information were not supported by sufficient evidence.
- Prince Harry lost his court case against the Daily Mail.
- The court found that the charges were insufficient to prove the case.
- Associated Newspapers described the decision as a victory.
- The case is regarded as one of the most high-profile in Harry’s row with the media.
- The ruling may have implications for other privacy cases.
The court dismissed the charges
The High Court in London handed down a ruling that proved significant in the case Prince Harry, singer Elton John and other prominent British figures who accused the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers, of unlawfully collecting private information. The claimants alleged that the newspaper had obtained their data by infringing their right to privacy. However, the judge Matthew Nicklin pointed out that the mere fact that the information is of a private nature is not sufficient proof of its unlawful origin.
The court’s ruling emphasises that assumptions or suspicions cannot replace proper evidence. This proved to be a key point in the case, as the claimants were unable to provide convincing evidence of unlawful methods of gathering information.
Prince Harry continues his fight
Prince Harry has been involved in legal proceedings against the British media for several years, accusing them of invading his privacy. During the hearings in January, he stated emotionally that the Daily Mail’s articles had made his wife’s life Meghan Markle «unbearable». Harry had previously won a case against the publisher of the Daily Mirror and reached a settlement with the media company’s UK division Rupert Murdoch.
A victory for the Daily Mail
Following the announcement of the court’s decision, Associated Newspapers, the publisher of the Daily Mail, described it as a «convincing victory for its journalists». The publisher had denied all the allegations from the outset, considering them to be unfounded. This ruling marked one of Prince Harry’s most significant legal defeats in his battle against the British tabloids.
Why it matters
The case was regarded as one of the most high-profile in Prince Harry’s long-running dispute with the British tabloids. The court’s ruling could have implications for other privacy infringement cases involving the British media. This highlights the complexity and importance of issues relating to the right to privacy in today’s information society.
