Prince Harry was victim of phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers rules judge

Prince Harry was the victim of phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers and has been awarded damages - a judge has ruled.

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex. Picture: Getty Images

The Duke of Sussex has been awarded £140,600 after bringing a phone hacking claim against a tabloid newspaper publisher at the High Court.

Mr Justice Fancourt concluded there was “extensive” phone hacking generally by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) from 2006 to 2011, “even to some extent” during the Leveson Inquiry into media standards.

The judge also ruled that the Duke’s phone was probably hacked “to a modest extent” by the publisher.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

What was Prince Harry's case against the Daily Mirror about?

Harry, 39, sued Mirror Group Newspapers for damages, claiming journalists at its titles – the Daily and Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

His case was heard alongside similar claims brought by actor Michael Turner, who is known professionally as Michael Le Vell and is most famous for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, actress Nikki Sanderson and Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse.

The allegations in their claims about unlawful activity at MGN’s titles covered a period from as early as 1991 until at least 2011, the court was previously told.

Mr Justice Fancourt, the judge who oversaw a trial of the claims earlier this year, delivered his ruling at a hearing on Friday.

The duke and other high-profile individuals are suing the publisher of the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.

The high-profile trial ended in June after seven weeks of evidence from dozens of witnesses, including former journalists, editors, private investigators and MGN executives.

Many other witnesses also submitted written testimony to the trial, such as the friends, family and colleagues of those bringing cases against the publisher.

Harry faced eight hours of questioning over two days during a witness box appearance that drew the attention of the world’s media.

MGN largely contested the claims and denied that any newspaper articles complained of resulted from phone hacking, while contending that the vast majority did not arise from any other unlawful activity.

The publisher made a limited number of admissions of unlawful activity in relation to the duke, Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman, for which the publisher apologised and accepted they will be entitled to some damages, but denied the majority of their claims and Mr Turner’s entire case.

What was the legal action against MGN?

The duke and other high-profile individuals were suing the publisher of the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.

They sought compensation over allegations MGN was involved in the unlawful gathering of their personal information for stories.

Claims brought by four individuals, including the duke, were heard in a civil trial as “representative” cases of the types of allegations facing the publisher, findings over which could affect the outcome of other claims.

What is unlawful information gathering?

It has been alleged that MGN’s journalists were linked to voicemail interception, colloquially known as phone hacking, securing information through deception and hiring private investigators for unlawful activities.

Lawyers for Harry, whose case covers the period 1995 to 2011, told the trial that such practices were “habitual and widespread” amid a “flood of illegality”.

What has MGN said in its defence?

MGN is largely contesting the claims brought against it, but has offered Harry an apology for an instance of unlawful information-gathering.

The publisher said it was admitted that a private investigator was instructed by an MGN journalist at The People to gather information about his activities at the Chinawhite nightclub one night in February 2004.

MGN says board members have denied knowledge of unlawful information-gathering activities and claims there is “no evidence, or no sufficient evidence, of voicemail interception” in any of the four claims chosen as representative cases – some of which it claims are brought too late.

Who else is involved in the case?

Former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife Fiona Wightman and Coronation Street actor Michael Turner – known professionally as Michael Le Vell – also had their claims considered as “test cases” at a trial.

All three also gave evidence.

Has the duke been to the High Court before?

Yes. In March, Harry made a surprise appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice in London amid a preliminary hearing in a similar case he is bringing against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail.

The duke is also suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun, over alleged unlawful information-gathering, and is bringing a legal challenge against the Home Office in relation to his security arrangements in the UK.

Additional reporting by PA