Prince Harry phone hacking – live: Piers Morgan denies wrongdoing as judge rules Duke was Mirror victim

Piers Morgan has denied any wrongdoing as a High Court judge has ruled Prince Harry was the victim of phone hacking by the Mirror publisher.

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled on Friday that Mr Morgan knew about and was involved in phone hacking when he was editor of the Daily Mirror as the Duke of Sussex won damages of £140,600 against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

But Mr Morgan insisted in a statement on Friday afternoon that he never hacked a phone and never told anyone to do so, before launching scathing attacks on Prince Harry, royal author Omid Scobie and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

He told reporters outside his home in west London that the “real mission” of Harry and his wife Megan Markle is not to reform the media but “to destroy the British monarchy”.

It comes after the duke accused the Mirror publisher of “vendetta journalism” in a searing attack following the ruling.

Harry’s lawyer David Sherborne said that editors such as Mr Morgan “clearly knew” about the hacking, after the judge accepted evidence that the TalkTV host had been aware of voicemail interception.

Key Points

• Piers Morgan breaks silence on Prince Harry hacking win against Mirror publisher

• Prince Harry wins £140,000 in damages against Mirror Group Newspapers

• Judge accepts Omid Scobie’s evidence that Piers Morgan knew about phone hacking

• 'Extensive’ hacking at MGN titles, including during Leveson Inquiry

• 15 of 33 articles were product of unlawful information gathering

Recap: Piers Morgan explains why he named ‘racist’ royal family members

21:00 , Tara Cobham

Piers Morgan has explained why he named the two allegedly “racist” members of the royal family featured in a Dutch translation of new book Endgame.

Earlier this week, the broadcaster decided to name the senior members that were inadvertently identified in an excerpt from Omid Scobie’s book about the royal racism scandal involving Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2021.

The claims, made in Scobie’s follow-up to Finding Freedom, feature alongside excerpts detailing the deterioration of Harry and William’s sibling relationship in the hours leading up to the Queen’s death in September 2022.

Jacob Stolworthy reports:

Piers Morgan shares his three reasons for naming ‘racist’ royal family members

Prince Harry hacking scandal is a nauseating tale of secrets and lies

20:30 , Alan Rusbridger

You need a strong stomach to read Mr Justice Fancourt’s devastating 386-page judgment, published in the High Court yesterday. It is a nauseating catalogue of intrusion, lies, concealment and dishonesty by the very people we rely on to tell us the truth.

It is, in short, a bleak moment for journalism, a trade already beleaguered, distrusted and economically enfeebled.

In a world of information chaos, we need honest witnesses to shine a light into darkness. Instead of which, piece by painful piece, the murky truth about influential sections of the British newspaper industry has been revealed. And the truth is, they don’t much care about the truth – at least when it comes to themselves.

Read more here:

Prince Harry hacking scandal is a nauseating tale of secrets and lies

Watch: Harry’s lawyer condemns phone hacking ‘cover-ups’ by Mirror publisher

20:00 , Tara Cobham

Duke of Sussex demands police probe after High Court phone hacking ruling

19:28 , Tara Cobham

The Duke of Sussex has called on the police to investigate a tabloid newspaper publisher after being awarded nearly £150,000 in damages in his High Court phone-hacking claim.

On Friday, a judge ruled that phone hacking became “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspaper (MGN) titles, and was practised “even to some extent” during the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

Harry, 39, said his partially successful case against MGN was “vindicating and affirming” and “a great day for truth, as well as accountability”.

Read more here:

Duke of Sussex demands police probe after High Court phone hacking ruling

What findings did the High Court make about the Mirror’s publisher?

18:38 , Tara Cobham

“Extensive” phone hacking took place at Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) titles over multiple years, a High Court judge has ruled, after a trial involving the Duke of Sussex.

In a 386-page ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Fancourt made a number of findings about the extent of unlawful information gathering at the Daily and Sunday Mirror and The People.

As well as phone hacking, this also included so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

The ruling came after a seven-week trial featuring a “generic” case about activities at MGN, as well as cases brought by four “representative” claimants, including Harry.

Here are the key findings in the landmark judgment:

What findings did the High Court make about the Mirror’s publisher?

Sunak declines to comment on ruling

17:56 , Tara Cobham

Rishi Sunak declined to comment after a judge ruled on Friday that phone hacking became “widespread and habitual” at Mirror Group Newspaper (MGN) titles.

The Prime Minister told broadcasters during a visit in Teesside: “I haven’t seen that.

“I believe obviously in a free and fair press, but ultimately everybody needs to operate within the law.

“That’s what anyone would expect and that is exactly what this country has always been proud to stand by.”

Met says it is ‘carefully considering’ judgment as it confirms no investigation

17:28 , Tara Cobham

The Metropolitan Police has said it is “carefully considering” Friday’s judgment as it confirmed that there is no ongoing investigation.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: “We will carefully consider the civil judgment handed down today at the High Court. There is no ongoing investigation.”

It comes after Prince Harry called on the force to investigate bringing charges against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Piers Morgan gives scathing response to Prince Harry’s phone hacking victory

16:59 , Tara Cobham

Piers Morgan has broken his silence over Prince Harry’s hacking win against the Mirror publisher.

The judge ruled at the High Court on Friday that Mr Morgan knew about and was involved in phone hacking when he was editor of the Daily Mirror as the Duke of Sussex won damages of £140,600 against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Mr Morgan said in a statement on Friday afternoon that he never hacked a phone and never told anyone to do so, before launching scathing attacks on Prince Harry, royal author Omid Scobie and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

Read more here:

Piers Morgan gives scathing response to Prince Harry’s phone hacking victory

Watch: Piers Morgan statement in full

16:58 , Tara Cobham

Piers Morgan launched a scathing attack on Prince Harry after the Duke of Sussex won damages of £140,600 against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over the phone hacking scandal.

The judge ruled at the High Court on Friday (15 December) that Mr Morgan knew about and was involved in phone hacking when he was editor of the Daily Mirror.

Mr Morgan said in a statement on Friday afternoon that he never hacked a phone and never told anyone to do so, before launching scathing attacks on Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and royal author Omid Scobie.

Here is Mr Morgan’s statement in full:

Watch: Former Mirror editor Piers Morgan launches scathing attack on Prince Harry

Morgan accuses Harry of ‘greed and hypocrisy’ in scathing attack

16:22 , Tara Cobham

In a scathing attack on the Duke of Sussex, Piers Morgan accused him of having a “ruthless, greedy, and hypocritical enthusiasm” for intruding on the lives of his own family.

Speaking outside his west London home on Friday, Mr Morgan continued to heavily criticise Prince Harry, referring to him by “his California tan face” and accusing him of “smearing the royal family” and wanting to “destroy the British monarchy”.

He told reporters: “Prince Harry’s outrage at media intrusion into the private lives of the royal family is only matched by his own ruthless, greedy and hypocritical enthusiasm for doing it himself.

“He talked today about the appalling behaviour of the press. But this is the guy who has repeatedly trashed his family in public for hundreds of millions of dollars even as two of its most senior and respected members were dying – his grandparents. It’s hard to imagine, frankly, more appalling behaviour than that.

“As for him saying this is a good day for truth, the duke has been repeatedly exposed in recent years as someone who wouldn’t know the truth if it slapped him in his California-tanned face. He demands accountability for the press, but refuses to accept any for himself for smearing the royal family, his own family, as a bunch of callous racists without producing a shred of proof to support those disgraceful claims.

“He also says he’s on a mission to reform the media when it’s become clear his real mission, along with his wife, is to destroy the British monarchy. And I will continue to do whatever I can to stop them.”

The 15 Mirror Group articles ruled to have been obtained unlawfully

16:10 , Tara Cobham

Prince Harry has claimed his first major scalp in his campaign against Britain’s tabloid press, as the High Court ruled that he was a victim of phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers.

The Duke of Sussex won damages of £140,600 against the publisher, at whose three titles the judge ruled there had been “extensive” phone hacking between 2006 and 2011 – including during the Leveson Inquiry – and that the misuse of private investigators was an “integral part of the system”.

Mr Justice Fancourt concluded that Harry’s phone was only hacked to a modest extent and this was carefully controlled by certain people at each newspaper – but that this did happen from the end of 2003 to April 2009 – while his girlfriends and close friends were “regularly targeted”.

Andy Gregory reports:

The 15 newspaper articles about Prince Harry ruled to have been obtained unlawfully

Morgan insists he had ‘zero knowledge’ of one article that ‘may' have involved illegal activity

16:02 , Tara Cobham

Piers Morgan insisted he had “zero knowledge” of the “just one” article published in his time as editor of the Daily Mirror, which “may” have involved illegal information gathering.

Speaking outside his London home, Mr Morgan said: “I had then and still have zero knowledge of how that particular story was gathered.”

Morgan hits out at royal author and Alastair Campbell

15:51 , Tara Cobham

Piers Morgan has described Omid Scobie as a “deluded fantasist” who “lied about me in court” and Alastair Campbell as “another proven liar who spun this country into an illegal war”.

In a statement given outside his west London home on Friday, Mr Morgan said: “I know the judge appears to have believed the evidence of Omid Scobie, who lied about me in his new book and he lied about me in court, and the whole world now knows him to be a deluded fantasist. And he believed the evidence of Alastair Campbell, another proven liar who spun this country into an illegal war.”

Earlier on Friday Mr Justice Fancourt said he accepted the evidence of biographer Mr Scobie, who told the High Court that then-Daily Mirror editor Mr Morgan was told about a use of phone hacking involving voicemail interception.

During the trial earlier this year, the court was told that Mr Scobie did work experience at the Daily Mirror in spring 2002 and overheard Mr Morgan being told that information relating to Kylie Minogue and her then-boyfriend James Gooding had come from voicemails.

Damages awarded to reflect ‘hurt’ caused by directors ‘knowing about illegal activity’, rules judge

15:50 , Tara Cobham

Mr Justice Fancourt said damages were also awarded to Prince Harry to reflect the “particular hurt” felt by the duke because two directors “knew about the illegal activity” and “positively concealed it”.

He said: “[Damages were also awarded] to reflect the particular hurt and sense of outrage that the duke feels because two directors of Trinity Mirror plc (as MGN’s parent company was formerly known), to whom the board had delegated day-to-day responsibility for such matters, knew about the illegal activity that was going on at their newspapers and could and should have put a stop to it”.

“Instead of doing so, they turned a blind eye to what was going on, and positively concealed it. Had the illegal conduct been stopped, the misuse of the duke’s private information would have ended much sooner,” the judge said.

Watch Morgan’s scathing statement

15:39 , Sam Rkaina

Piers Morgan breaks silence on Prince Harry hacking win against Mirror publisher

15:31 , Tara Cobham

Piers Morgan has broken his silence over Prince Harry’s hacking win against the Mirror publisher.

Mr Morgan said in a statement on Friday afternoon he never hacked a phone and never told anyone to do so, before launching scathing attacks on Prince Harry, royal author Omid Scobie and former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell.

“I want to reiterate as I’ve consistently said for many years now - I’ve never hacked a phone nor told anybody else to hack a phone,” he told reporters. “And nobody has produced any actual evidence to prove that I did.”

Morgan said he was not called as a witness by either side of the case or asked to provide a statement, both of which he would have “very happily agreed” to do. He added that he did not “have a single conversation with any of the Mirror Group lawyers throughout the entire legal process”.

Therefore, he said: “So I wasn’t able to respond to the many false allegations that were spewed about me in court by old foes of mine with an axe to grind, most of which, inexplicably, were not even challenged in my absence by the Mirror Group counsel.”

‘Mirror Group not responsible for all unlawful activity directed at duke,’ rules judge

15:30 , Tara Cobham

Mr Justice Fancourt acknowledged that the Mirror Group “was not responsible for all the unlawful activity that was directed at the duke” in his ruling at the High Court on Friday.

He said he was awarding damages to the duke where unlawful information-gathering was proved, and also to compensate him “fully for the distress that he suffered as a result of the unlawful activity directed at him and those close to him”.

“I recognise that Mirror Group was not responsible for all the unlawful activity that was directed at the duke, and that a good deal of the oppressive behaviour of the press towards the duke over the years was not unlawful at all,” the judge continued.

“Mirror Group, therefore, only played a small part in everything that the duke suffered and the award of damages on this ground is therefore modest.”

Watch reaction outside High Court as Harry wins damages in privacy case

15:10 , Tara Cobham

Watch from outside the Royal Courts of Justice in London after the Duke of Sussex won damages against a tabloid newspaper publisher on Friday 15 December.

Prince Harry has been awarded £140,600 after bringing a phone hacking claim against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

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

Watch here:

Watch reaction outside High Court as Prince Harry wins damages in privacy case

Piers Morgan set to ‘shortly’ make statement in response to ruling

14:47 , Tara Cobham

Piers Morgan has announced he will “shortly” be making a statement in response to Prince Harry’s hacking win against the Mirror publisher.

Writing on X, the Talk TV presenter said: “I'll be making a statement responding to the Prince Harry v Mirror Group judgment shortly.”

In a direct address to reporters, he added: “So all you guys camped outside my house in the cold won't have to have to wait much longer.”

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled at the High Court on Friday that Mr Morgan knew about and was involved in phone hacking when he was editor of the Daily Mirror.

Mr Morgan has previously always denied any direct knowledge of phone hacking during his time as a tabloid newspaper editor.

MGN apologises in statement following ruling

14:30 , Tara Cobham

Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) apologised “unreservedly” for “historical wrongdoing” following Friday’s ruling.

An MGN spokesperson said: “We welcome today’s judgment that gives the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago.

“Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation.”

What happened to cases heard alongside Harry's

14:10 , Tara Cobham

Harry’s 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.

Claims brought by Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman were dismissed by Mr Justice Fancourt because they were made too late, despite the judge finding that some of their complaints were proved.

Mr Turner was awarded a total of £31,650 in damages after the judge ruled his phone hacking and unlawful information-gathering case was “proved only to a limited extent”.

Their cases were considered as “representative” of the types of allegations facing MGN and Mr Justice Fancourt’s findings could affect the outcome of other claims, which include challenges brought by actor Ricky Tomlinson, the estate of the late singer George Michael, ex-footballer and television presenter Ian Wright and Girls Aloud singer Cheryl.

Judgement ‘lays bare extraordinary cover-up’, says campaign chief

13:50 , Tara Cobham

The judgment passed today “lays bare the extraordinary cover-up” by Mirror Group Newspapers over decades, the CEO of Hacked Off has said.

Nathan Sparkes, chief of the campaign for a free and accountable press that was set up in response to the phone-hacking revelations, said: "Today's judgment lays bare the extraordinary cover-up which has taken place at Mirror Group Newspapers over the last two decades. It paints the picture of a rotten corporate culture, desperate to escape accountability at all costs. Other newspaper groups will also be looking over their shoulders, as this judgment shows that justice may yet catch up with them all.”

He added: “This case serves as yet another reminder of the urgent need for effective and independent self-regulation of the press to protect the interests of ordinary people who are victims of wrongdoing by powerful and unaccountable newspaper groups.”

Judge rules Prince Harry was hacked and awards him £140,000

13:31 , Tara Cobham

Prince Harry has partially won his latest legal battle and has been awarded damages, as a High Court judge ruled that he was the victim of phone-hacking by Mirror newspapers.

The Duke of Sussex was one of four test cases selected to be heard after he sued Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for obtaining information using unlawful means, such as private investigators or gaining information by deception.

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled that 15 out of 33 articles examined were the product of hacking and that his personal phone had been targeted between 2003 and 2009, before awarding him £140,600 for the distress caused.

Holly Evans reports from the Royal Courts of Justice:

Judge rules Prince Harry was hacked and awards him £140,000

Prince Harry accuses Mirror Group of ‘vendetta journalism’ in scathing attack

13:12 , Andy Gregory

Here is more from the Duke of Sussex’s statement, as delivered on his behalf by his barrister David Sherborne outside the Rolls Building:

“The journey to justice can be a slow and painful one. And since bringing my claim almost five years ago, defamatory stories and intimidating tactics have been deployed against me and at my family’s expense.

“And so, as I too have learned through this process, patience is in fact a virtue, especially in the face of vendetta journalism. I hope that the court’s findings will serve as a warning to all media organisations who have employed these practices, and then similarly lied about them.

“Mirror Group’s actions were so calculated and misleading that their pattern of destroying evidence and concealing their unlawful behaviour continued into the litigation itself. And as the judge has ruled, even to this day.”

Majority of 15 articles relate to relationship with Chelsy Davy

12:57 , Holly Evans

In his written judgement, Mr Justice Fancourt details the 15 articles proven to have been sourced as a result of phone-hacking and unlawful information-gathering, with the majority relating to Prince Harry’s relationship with former girlfriend Chelsy Davy.

They include damages awarded for an article relating to their arguments after a visit to a lap dancing club, phone calls detailing the deterioration of their relationship and arrangements for her to visit him at Kensington Palace.

Phone hacking was concealed from Parliament and Leveson Inquiry, judge says

12:46 , Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice

Mr Justice Fancourt said the unlawful activity was “concealed” from Parliament, shareholders and the public, as well as the board overseeing MGN.

In his summary of the ruling, the judge said the board as a whole was not told about it, but that it should have been investigated at the latest in early 2007.

“Instead, it was concealed from the board, from Parliament in 2007 and 2011, from the Leveson Inquiry, from shareholders, and from the public for years, and the extent of it was concealed from claimants in the Mirror Newspapers hacking litigation and even from the court at and before the trial in 2015," he said.

‘Habitual’ unlawful activities by private investigators were ‘integral’ to Mirror publisher

12:12 , Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice

Referring to private investigators used by the Mirror newspapers, Mr Justice Fancourt found that 11 out of the 51 had been used “very substantially” by the publisher to carry out “very extensive and habitual unlawful information gathering”.

He described them as an “integral part of the system”, while another 13 private investigators were used on a less frequent basis but did a “significant amount”, while a further five did some work but not to the same extent and volume as the others.

The court found no sufficient evidence relation to 14 other investigators, while another 10 were based and operating abroad and no case could be proven that their behaviour was unlawful.

Prince Harry calls on Metropolitan Police to investigate hacking

12:00 , Andy Gregory

Prince Harry has urged the Metropolitan Police to “do their duty” and investigate the unlawful information gathering highlighted in his case.

“The acts listed in this judgement are prime examples of what happens when the power of the press is abused,” said the Duke of Sussex.

“I respectfully call upon the authorities, the financial regulator, the stock market who were deliberately deceived by Mirror group, and indeed the Metropolitan Police and prosecuting authorities, to do their duty for the British public and to investigate bringing charges against the company and those who have broken the law.

“Today’s ruling is vindicating and affirming. I’ve been told that slaying dragons will get you burned, but in light of today’s victory and the importance of doing what is needed for a free and honest press, it is a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues.”

Judge ‘accepts’ Omid Scobie’s testimony that Piers Morgan knew about phone hacking

11:49 , Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice

In a significant part of the judgment, Mr Justice Fancourt lists times when Piers Morgan was said to have been aware of phone hacking.

Referring to evidence given by royal author Omid Scobie, he said that he found the evidence of Morgan’s involvement to be credible and it had not been countered by the Mirror Group.

Scobie, who has been at the centre of recent controversy around the naming of the ‘racist’ royals, had recalled an incident when he was a student intern at the newspaper group, working on its “3am Girls” entertainment desk.

In 2002, he told the court he had witnessed Morgan, the then-editor of the Mirror, discuss an article about Kylie Minogue and that he had asked how confident the journalist was about the story. He had been informed by the journalist that the source had been a voicemail, Scobie claimed.

Mr Justice Fancourt said that recollection was supported by evidence of an invoice from a private investigator related to obtaining Minogue’s mobile phone number and that of her then partner, James Gooding.

Prince Harry’s lawyer celebrates ‘momentous win'

11:40 , Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice

Speaking outside the Rolls Building, Prince Harry’s lawyer David Sherbourne said this was a “momentous win”.

He added: “Today is a great day for truth as well as accountability”.

The duke thanked his legal team for “dismantling the sworn testimony” of Mirror Group and said the case was not just about hacking, but about “systemic and appalling behaviour followed by cover ups”.

Board directors, legal team and editors such as Piers Morgan “clearly knew about” phone hacking, he said, adding that that “between them, they even went as far as to lie under oath at the Leveson Inquiry” into phone hacking.

Prince Harry to be compensated for ‘distress’ caused by MGN, judge rules

11:17 , Andy Gregory

In addition to damages relating to 15 articles written about Prince Harry, the judge said he had awarded the Duke of Sussex a further sum to compensate for the distress he had suffered.

Mr Justice Fancourt said: “I have also awarded a further sum to compensate the Duke fully for the distress that he suffered as a result of the unlawful activity directed at him and those close to him.

“I recognise that Mirror Group was not responsible for all the unlawful activity that was directed at the Duke, and that a good deal of the oppressive behaviour of the Press towards the Duke over the years was not unlawful at all.

“Mirror Group therefore only played a small part in everything that the Duke suffered and the award of damages on this ground is therefore modest.”

Harry’s claims did not always ‘stand up to careful analysis’, rules judge

11:09 , Andy Gregory

In 18 of the 33 articles examined at the trial, Prince Harry’s claims of unlawful information gathering “did not stand up to careful analysis”, the judge ruled.

Mr Justice Fancourt said: “There was a tendency for the Duke in his evidence to assume that everything published was the product of voicemail interception because phone hacking was rife within Mirror Group at the time.

“But phone hacking was not the only journalistic tool at the time, and his claims in relation to the other 18 articles did not stand up to careful analysis.

“There were also a number of separate invoices, unconnected to published articles, which I consider to be evidence of unlawful gathering of the Duke’s private information. I have accordingly awarded the Duke damages in respect of each of the articles and invoices where unlawful information gathering was proved.”

MGN ‘apologises reservedly’ after judge finds ‘extensive’ phone hacking

11:03 , Andy Gregory

Mirror Group Newspapers has said it “apologises reservedly” in a statement after the ruling.

“We welcome today’s judgment that gives the business the necessary clarity to move forward from events that took place many years ago,” the publisher said.

“Where historical wrongdoing took place, we apologise unreservedly, have taken full responsibility and paid appropriate compensation.”

Ex-Mirror boss ‘turned a blind eye’ to hacking

11:02 , Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice

Mr Justice Fancourt also ruled that ex-Mirror chief executive Sly Bailey knew of hacking and “turned a blind eye”.

Breaking: Prince Harry wins partial victory in court battle with Mirror publisher over hacking claims

10:59 , Andy Gregory

Prince Harry has won damages against Mirror Group Newspapers, as a High Court judge ruled that the publisher’s titles accessed his voicemails.

Mr Justice Fancourt found that 15 out of 33 articles focused on during the trial were the product of hacking from the Duke of Sussex’s mobile phone or the product of unlawful information gathering.

He concluded that Harry’s phone was only hacked to a modest extent and this was carefully controlled by certain people at each newspaper – but that this did happen from the end of 2003 to April 2009.

The duke was awarded £140,600 in damages.

My colleague Holly Evans has more in this breaking report:

Prince Harry wins partial victory in battle with Mirror publisher over hacking claims

Use of private investigators for unlawful information gathering was ‘integral’ part of MGN, judge rules

10:46 , Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice

A High Court judge has ruled that the use of private investigators for unlawful information gathering was an “integral part of the system” that existed within the three newspapers at the time.

Of the 51 investigators used by the publisher and mentioned in court, Mr Justice Fancourt found that 11 were “very substantially” involved in unlawful information gathering for the journalists and editors.

Judge says there was ‘extensive’ phone hacking at MGN from 2006 to 2011

10:44 , Andy Gregory

There was “extensive” phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers from 2006 to 2011, “even to some extent” during the Leveson Inquiry into media standards, Mr Justice Fancourt has ruled.

Judge arrives in court

10:31 , Andy Gregory

Mr Justice Fancourt has arrived and taken his seat in the court. Proceedings are about to begin.

The 33 articles at centre of Duke of Sussex’s High Court hacking claim

10:24 , Andy Gregory

A host of articles about the Duke of Sussex’s life are at the centre of his legal battle with the publisher of the Mirror.

Harry alleges 147 stories from 1996 to 2010, published by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) titles, used information obtained through unlawful means, such as phone hacking.

The articles cover the duke’s relationship with his family and ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, a few injuries and illnesses, his military service and allegations of drug use.

Some 33 articles, dated between 1996 and 2009, were selected for examination during the trial of Harry’s contested claim against MGN.

You can read the details here:

The 33 articles at centre of Duke of Sussex’s High Court hacking claim

Prince Harry’s lawyer takes his place in court – but no sign of the duke

10:21 , Holly Evans, at the Royal Courts of Justice

Since opening its doors at 10am, Court 30 of the Rolls Building has gradually filled with members of the press and legal teams for the prince, the other three claimants and MGN's team.

While camera crews and photographers have lined the street outside, there has been no word to indicate Harry will attend to hear Mr Justice Fancourt's judgement at 10.30am.

His lawyer David Sherborne, a leading barrister who has represented countless celebrities, has recently arrived to take his place, while Andrew Green KC for the Mirror publisher is yet to take his place.

Drug-taking and alcohol features in Mirror articles

09:51 , Holly Evans

One front page story that was examined in court claimed that some of the duke’s friends had taken “hard drugs” in front of him, including ecstasy, cocaine and GHB, while also reporting that the Prince of Wales – now the King – was “terrified”.

Harry said in his evidence “it is not clear to me where the defendant’s journalists could have possibly obtained these quotes from.” Another example was a story containing allegations that he had smoked cannabis, with the headline “Harry took drugs” and “Cool it Harry”.

While others were more harmless, such as an article detailing his visit to a gastropub in Chelsea, London, for his 16th birthday, the duke said he did not know how anyone could have known about these plans. MGN said that an agency had been tipped off that the duke was in the restaurant and that Mirror journalists spoke to the owner, chef Ed Baines, without any unlawful activity.

Harry says media intrusion impacted relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy

09:33 , Holly Evans

Prince Harry told the court a sustained breach of his privacy had undermined his relationships, such as with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, and he had faced “intrusion and hate”.

He also told the court how alleged intrusion caused “mistrust” between himself and his brother, and that “the ups and downs and ins and outs” of his relationship” were all revealed and picked apart by the three Mirror Group titles”, arguing that it was “clearly driven by unlawful activity”.

“For my whole life, the press has misled me and covered up the wrongdoing,” he said.

King Charles visits Royal Courts of Justice on eve of son’s trial verdict

09:05 , Andy Gregory

While there is no word on whether Prince Harry will appear in court for today’s verdict, which appears unlikely, his father King Charles was at the Royal Courts of Justice only yesterday:

Has Prince Harry been to the High Court before?

08:59 , Andy Gregory

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 of Sussex 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.

You can read more about the latter case, following a three-day court battle las week, here:

Prince Harry says he was ‘forced’ to ‘step back’ from royal duties

Prince Harry should receive £320,000 compensation, lawyers argue

08:23 , Andy Gregory

At the trial in June, Prince Harry’s lawyers told the court that he should be awarded up to £320,000 in compensation from Mirror Group Newspapers if Mr Justice Fancourt rules in his favour.

In a court document, the Duke of Sussex’s legal team set out its suggestions for the amount of money Harry could receive if his case is successful in relation to all 33 stories selected for examination during the trial.

The duke may also be awarded more if the judge concludes Harry is also entitled to “aggravated damages”, for additional distress or injury to feelings arising from the nature of the alleged wrongdoing.

What is the legal action against Mirror Group Newspapers?

08:08 , Andy Gregory

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

They are seeking 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.

Phone-hacking claim ‘entirely speculative’, High Court told

06:45 , Jane Dalton

The Duke of Sussex’s allegation that his mobile phone was systematically hacked over a number of years was “entirely speculative”, lawyers for a tabloid newspaper publisher told the High Court in June:

Duke of Sussex’s phone-hacking claim ‘entirely speculative’, High Court told

Why won’t Harry defend his Dad?

05:30 , Jane Dalton

It’s just a few days since Harry and his wife Meghan were in the headlines following publication of the book Endgame over the royals’ fallout.

The Dutch version of the book identified the King as one of two people who were allegedly racist for questioning baby Archie’s skin colour.

Royal biographer Angela Levin asks why Prince Harry did not speak out to defend his Dad:

Why won’t Prince Harry speak out to defend his dad?

James Hewitt ‘father’ stories designed to oust me, says Harry

04:00 , Jane Dalton

In an explosive witness statement, the prince claimed that stories about rumours that his father was James Hewitt were aimed at ousting him from the royal family.

He also claimed that the UK government was at “rock bottom”:

Government and press both ‘at rock bottom’, says Prince Harry

Soap star says case 'took five years’ off his life

02:00 , Jane Dalton

Prince Harry’s case is being heard alongside similar claims by actor Michael Turner, who is known professionally as Michael Le Vell and best known for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, actress Nikki Sanderson, who was also in the soap, and comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife, Fiona Wightman.

The High Court heard that Mr Le Vell had been in some “really dark places”.

At the hearing in June, asked by his barrister David Sherborne how the process had felt, Mr Le Vell replied: “It’s been one of the most distressing… this took about five years off my life.

“It’s been emotional, and it has made me go to somewhere I never thought I would go again – those really dark places – but sometimes you have got to stick up for yourself and this is the time to do that.”

Prince answered questions for eight hours

Thursday 14 December 2023 23:50 , Jane Dalton

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

It was thought to be the first time a senior member of the royal family has personally appeared in court proceedings since 2002, when the Princess Royal pleaded guilty to a charge under the Dangerous Dogs Act after her pet bit two children in Windsor Great Park.

His appearance came just over a month after he attended the coronation of his father the King.

Coronation Street star ‘furious’ at phone hacking

Thursday 14 December 2023 22:05 , Jane Dalton

One of those who sued Mirror Group Newspapers alongside the prince is Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who told the High Court it made him “furious” to think journalists were hacking into his voicemails when he was accused of sexual offences, of which he was later cleared:

Soap star Michael Le Vell says thought of voicemail hacking made him ‘furious’

‘No evidence’ for many hacking claims, says publisher

Thursday 14 December 2023 21:40 , Jane Dalton

When the case opened back in May, a lawyer for Mirror Group Newspapers argued that a “very substantial proportion” of the articles involved in the case were at “a breathtaking level of triviality”:

‘Simply no evidence’ for many Mirror phone hacking claims, Prince Harry trial told

Coronation Street star ‘furious’ at phone hacking

Thursday 14 December 2023 20:01 , Jane Dalton

One of those who sued Mirror Group Newspapers alongside the prince is Coronation Street actor Michael Le Vell, who told the High Court it made him “furious” to think journalists were hacking into his voicemails when he was accused of sexual offences, of which he was later cleared:

Soap star Michael Le Vell says thought of voicemail hacking made him ‘furious’

Harry should win £320,000 payout, lawyers say

Thursday 14 December 2023 18:36 , Jane Dalton

In a trial in June, the prince’s lawyers argued he should be awarded up to £320,000 in compensation over the alleged misuse of his private information.

Mirror Group Newspapers largely contested the claims that 147 stories from 1996 to 2010, published by MGN titles, used information obtained through unlawful means.

Prince Harry entitled to £320,000 from Mirror publisher in hacking trial, lawyers say

Prince awaits judge’s ruling

Thursday 14 December 2023 17:18 , Sam Rkaina

The Duke of Sussex and other high-profile people are awaiting a judge’s ruling in their case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) on Friday.

Prince Harry, 39, sued the publisher for damages over allegations of unlawful information gathering, claiming journalists at its titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators for unlawful activities.

The seven-week high-profile High Court trial in London ended in June.

Mr Justice Fancourt is due to give his ruling at a hearing on tomorrow.