'Criminals with journalistic powers' Harry brings global spotlight to battle against Mail

When the Duke of Sussex unexpectedly arrived at the high court on Monday morning he became the most senior royal to appear in a courtroom since Princess Anne admitted being in charge of an English bull terrier that was dangerously out of control in a public space.

- Jim Waterson

Prince Harry was there to allege that Associated Newspapers, the parent company of the Daily Mail, was similarly out of control. He alleged its papers pretended to be a “beacon of truth and integrity” while in reality they “widely and habitually carried out or commissioned illegal or unlawful information-gathering activities”.

“I am bringing this claim because I love my country and I remain deeply concerned by the unchecked power, influence and criminality of Associated,” Harry wrote in a witness statement. “The evidence I have seen shows that Associated’s journalists are criminals with journalistic powers which should concern every single one of us. The British public deserve to know the full extent of this cover-up and I feel it is my duty to expose it.”

Associated Newspapers called the claims “preposterous smears” – and highlighted how Harry and his co-claimants appeared to be relying on testimony from a private investigator who has since retracted his statement.

The legal arguments, however, are only a part of it.

Harry’s decision to fly in from the US, entering through the front door for maximum press coverage, focused global media attention on what could otherwise have been a drab four-day preliminary hearing. The circus surrounding his arrival at the high court on the Strand in central London sometimes obscured what was actually going on in court 76.