Prince Harry, stars accuse UK paper of spying

Prince Harry, Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley are among the high profile celebrities taking legal action against a publication they claim carried out “gross breaches of privacy”.

In separate lawsuits filed against Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL) — the publisher of the Daily Mail — the media company has been accused of a range of criminal practices, including the “hiring of private investigators to secretly place listening devices inside people’s cars and homes”.

British actress Sadie Frost and campaigner Baroness Doreen Lawrence have also taken legal action against the publisher.

London law firm Hamlins, which is representing the Duke of Sussex and Frost, said those taking action had been the victims of “abhorrent criminal activity”.

ANL has vehemently denied all allegations, with a spokesman describing the claims as “preposterous smears”.

“We utterly and unambiguously refute these preposterous smears which appear to be nothing more than a pre-planned and orchestrated attempt to drag the Mail titles into the phone hacking scandal concerning articles up to 30 years old,” the newspaper group said. “These unsubstantiated and highly defamatory claims — based on no credible evidence — appear to be simply a fishing expedition by claimants and their lawyers, some of whom have already pursued cases elsewhere.”

In a statement issued by Hamlins, it was alleged that the activity included, “The commissioning of individuals to surreptitiously listen into and record people’s live, private telephone calls whilst they were taking place. The payment of police officials, with corrupt links to private investigators, for inside, sensitive information. The impersonation of individuals to obtain medical information from private hospitals, clinics, and treatment centres by deception. The accessing of bank accounts, credit histories and financial transactions through illicit means and manipulation.”

The six individuals claim they “have become aware of compelling and highly distressing evidence that they have been the victims of abhorrent criminal activity and gross breaches of privacy by Associated Newspapers”.

The lawsuit marks the fifth brought on by either Harry or his wife, formerly Meghan Markle, against ANL since they stepped down as senior royals in 2020.