LONDON: Prince Harry’s libel case against the Mail on Sunday newspaper over an article about his security arrangements must go to trial, a judge at London’s High Court ruled on Friday, rejecting the royal’s attempts to dismiss the publisher’s defence.
Prince Harry, the younger son of King Charles, filed a lawsuit against Associated Newspapers last year, challenging an article that alleged he had concealed a separate legal battle with the British government concerning his publicly funded police protection. This protection was withdrawn when he stepped back from royal duties in 2020. The article also claimed that Harry sought to mislead the public about his willingness to cover the costs of his policing.
Despite Prince Harry’s application to have the newspaper group’s defence dismissed, Judge Matthew Nicklin stated in a written ruling that it had a genuine chance of success.
In a summary of the decision, the judge mentioned, “The Duke of Sussex’s claim will now proceed through its remaining pre-trial phases and, unless resolved differently, will go to trial at some point in 2024.
