Duke of Sussex & Others vs ANL: thread 5

[bluegreygreen]

This is the fifth thread discussing the case Prince Harry (and 6 others) brought against the Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers Limited; ANL) for alleged unlawful information gathering (UIG).
The claimants were: Prince Harry (PH); Doreen Lawrence (DL); Liz Hurley (EH/LH); Elton John (EJ); David Furnish (DF); Simon Hughes (SH); Sadie Frost (SF). They were represented by David Sherborne (DS).
The defendant (ANL) was represented by Anthony White (AMW).

Judgement was handed down by Judge Nicklin on 7th July 2026.
All claims were dismissed.
Links to the summary and full judgement are below.
We are currently awaiting decisions around costs, with the next hearing due on 29-30th July.

The threads to date were thorough discussions of the evidence (so far as we were able to obtain it), with posters giving links and explaining their views.
Following the judgement, we discussed the judgement itself, the reaction, statements made by different parties and ongoing relevant issues.

We have mostly kept things civil by avoiding more general discussion on Royal Family members, which can become partisan, and trying not to be derailed from the main topic of the thread.

We have occasionally included (when things slowed with the title case) other cases or discussions with a specific theme of free speech/press freedom, particularly when related to those with money or power preventing others from speaking.

Links to previous threads
Thread 1
Thread 2
Thread 3
Thread 4

There was limited direct reporting from court after the celebrities gave evidence; what there we followed on this link
Sky news link to court case

Summary judgement

Full judgement

The podcast is really worth a listen. Very articulate at explaining law in non legelese to the lay person. So impressed i've followed them.

If anyone has access to the Times, there's an article with the title Former lord chancellors brand Harry’s judge attack ‘unacceptable’

Standby

Former lord chancellors brand Harry’s judge attack ‘unacceptable’

https://www.thetimes.com/article/43c6a1d1-ad7e-4d03-a11d-0a5281c77fda?shareToken=da348a366a09eeda02c2bd92c7013ddb

He just won’t let it lie will he?

‘A spokesman for the duke said that Harry “stands by every word of his statement”.

All of these learned people saying how wrong he is and he still can’t accept it.
Ignorant pig.

I can't believe he's doubled down. He will never learn when to shut up.

Thank you @HoldMyWine 💐

I'm not suggesting any of them would do this, but what would happen if any of the claimants just didn't pay and went to live in a foreign home and didn't come back?

Thank you for this which I have lined up for a midnight listen with 🥃

"Stands by every word"

Christ The man is an utter weapon.

I think he’s really bouyed up (manic) after visiting KC. He’s in for a nasty shock at the end of the month.

@GirlsInGreen I will listen when I have time! However it is interesting that one KC was the DPP and both are at Matrix chambers whose barristers, including other KCs, defended ANL! Interesting. This is also the chambers Cherie Booth founded along with KM of the podcast.

Ooh very interesting!

… Lord Garnier KC, a former Conservative solicitor-general, suggested that the claimants in the case should remember some core elements of the trial. “The judge was there all day, every day, and concentrated throughout the process on doing justice between the parties,” he said.
**
Garnier added that Nicklin’s judgment contained “several hundred pages and about 2,000 paragraphs of analysis, findings of fact, recitations of uncontested facts and conclusions that flow from those facts”.

This ^^ will be the core of why, I suspect, an appeal will be refused. The judge made findings of fact. Where would the basis of the appeal lie? Appeal courts don’t like overturning findings of fact. They tend to identify potential issues in the interpretation of law. We’ve seen this time and again over on the FWR board.

Where did Judge Nicklin specifically err in law?

And there’s H again, hiding behind a WoC. I’m beginning to wonder if he used Meghan more than she ever used him.

Well Cherie came across very badly in Charlotte Griffith's article.... booting a young woman out of her home and into the streets late at night.

He is just an absolutely ignorant fool. Never was the maxim ‘empty vessels make the most noise’ more apt.

Good point about the WoC. I am sure the DM are being restrained right now but once the costs hearing is done, there will be a slew of Harold stories that they’ve sat on.

@Lunde I was just commenting on Cherie booth for general info. She’s no bearing on this whatsoever. Also the claimants must be given leave to appeal. It’s certainly divided opinion but most of what I’ve read, is leaning towards no appeal.

Also the claimants must be given leave to appeal.

My understanding was that Judge Nicklin could refuse leave to appeal, and that the claimants could then apply to the Court of Appeal themselves for leave to appeal (and may or may not be given leave)?

I can’t see on what basis they can appeal, I don’t think not liking the outcome will cut it.

What I found interesting about the article is that they criticised Harry, given his constitutional position, but didn't once mention Doreen Lawrence's position as a member of the House of Lords.

I do wonder if she will be censured, or will it be ignored.

That's a good point.

it would be interesting if the claimants started suing each other and hacked off

What grounds could they use to sue each other?

Where did Judge Nicklin specifically err in law?

You're being rational again, @AnAutumnCrow - it doesn't do, you know

I don't have the knowledge to comment on the legal issues, but it's very clear that, to Harry, anything he doesn't like is automatically "wrong" and those doing the "wrong" have to be attacked

I'd say it's unbelieveable that he's been stupid enough to "stand by every word" of his statement when shutting up would be the better choice, but it seems to have gone from nobody else being able to control him to him not even being able to control himself. Sad, but this is what happens when utter inadequcy, linked to a high profile, meet the real world