Prince may give evidence at Mirror phone hacking trial, three days after Coronation

THE Duke of Sussex is expected to give evidence at a High Court trial against Mirror Group Newspapers over allegations of phone hacking, it has emerged.

The Duke’s claim involves 25 private investigators and 148 news articles published between 1996 and 2010.

It will form one of the central test cases at a six to seven-week trial due to begin on May 9 – the first working day after the Coronation bank holiday.

Prince Harry is one of a number of high-profile figures bringing damages claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over alleged unlawful information gathering at its titles.

The court heard that he would be the only witness in his case. It is likely that he will have to be cross-examined on his witness statement by MGN lawyers.

However, if he travels from California to the UK to attend his father’s Coronation, he may appear in person in court.

Piers Morgan, the former editor of the Daily Mirror, one of the Sussexes’ most vocal critics, may also be dragged into the case.

Other celebrities involved in the case include Cheryl Tweedy, the former Girls Aloud singer, the estate of the late singer George Michael, Ian Wright, the ex-footballer and television presenter and Ricky Tomlinson, the actor.

Yesterday, Mr Justice Fancourt heard from lawyers as he considered the scope of the trial and which claimants should be selected as “test cases”.

Others involved include Nikki Sanderson, the former Coronation Street actress, Fiona Wightman, the exwife of comedian Paul Whitehouse and Michael Turner, the actor.

David Sherborne, representing the claimants, revealed that Prince Harry’s claim “covers the largest number of private investigators”, with 25 of the main private investigators who are alleged to have engaged in unlawful activity in the overall case. The judge said the number of articles to be considered at trial should be reduced to about 33.

MGN is contesting the claims, arguing that some of them have been brought too late.

The Duke is bringing two separate actions against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and Mailonline.