Prince Harry's Lawsuits Against U.K. Tabloids: Everything to Know About His 4 Court Cases

The Duke of Sussex has said the "mission of changing the media landscape within the U.K." has become part of his life's work

Prince Harry emerged victorious in his lawsuit against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) over allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful acts, inspiring a dive into the other litigation he is involved with against newspaper publishers in the U.K.

Though the Duke of Sussex, 39, was not present at High Court in London when Justice Fancourt handed down the ruling and awarded him over £140,000 ($180,000) against MGN, he called the ruling “vindicating” and said the “mission continues” in a statement read by his lawyer David Sherbourne.

The language calls back to a revelation Prince Harry made in an ITV interview timed to the release of his memoir Spare last January.

“One of the reasons why I am moving the — the mission of changing the media landscape within the U.K. from being personal to my life’s work, a large part of that is down to the ongoing legal battles,” Prince Harry told Tom Bradby, WalesOnline reported.

As the MGN case ends, here’s everything to know about Prince Harry’s current lawsuits.

Related: Prince Harry Wins Phone Hacking Lawsuit Against Mirror Group Newspapers: 'A Great Day for Truth'

Mirror Group Newspapers

On Friday, Prince Harry won his phone hacking lawsuit against MGN, the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, The Sunday People and more.

Handing down the ruling, the presiding judge, Justice Fancourt, said that 15 of 33 articles at the center of Harry's claim published by MGN "were the product of phone hacking of his mobile phone or the mobile phones of his associates, or the product of other unlawful information-gathering."

The Duke of Sussex first filed a lawsuit against MGN in 2019, alleging that his phone voicemails were hacked using unlawful information gathering. He was one of four "representative" claimants chosen as "test cases" from a larger group of high-profile figures suing the publisher, The Independent previously reported.

The trial began in May, and King Charles’ youngest son made history in June as the first prominent member of the British royal family to give evidence in court in 130 years when he took the stand to testify against the newspaper group.

In London court on June 6, Harry argued that about 140 articles published from 1996 to 2010 contained information obtained via unlawful methods, the BBC reported. Thirty-three of the stories were selected for consideration in the court case, the outlet said, and Justice Fancourt handed down the judgment on Friday.

In a powerful statement read aloud by Sherbourne following the ruling, Harry said in part, "Today is a great day for truth as well as accountability. 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’s a worthwhile price to pay. The mission continues.”

Related: Prince Harry Reacts to Lawsuit Win: 'I've Been Told That Slaying Dragons Will Get You Burned'

News Group Newspapers

Prince Harry is also suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, over alleged invasions of privacy from the mid-1990s until 2016, Reuters reported. The case is likely to be heard at a trial in January 2025.

NGN has denied all of Harry's allegations, which claim he was targeted by journalists and private investigators, according to the BBC. The methods were identified in the July ruling as "blagging of confidential information from third parties, and instructing private investigators to do these or other unlawful acts.”

However, Judge Fancourt dismissed another claim of his relating to phone hacking. Over the summer, Fancourt ruled that Harry was aware of phone hacking at the News of World by 2012 and could have brought his case sooner. In the U.K., claimants usually have six years after a privacy breach in which to take action.

While Harry’s allegations about the publisher using illegal methods to gather information will go to trial, Justice Fancourt dismissed another claim of his relating to phone hacking.

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The court also previously heard Harry's claim that a "secret agreement" was struck between Buckingham Palace and NGN which had prevented him from taking legal action sooner.

In March, Harry said in a witness statement seen by PEOPLE that a deal between royal aides and NGN stated he should delay any legal action against the company, at which time privacy breaches would be admitted or settled with an apology.

In July, however, Fancourt stated that Harry had not “provided any evidence from those in the palace who would have been aware of a secret agreement if there was one.”

Associated Newspapers, Alleged Illegal Information Gathering

Prince Harry, Elton John and Elizabeth Hurley are among the high-profile figures suing Associated Newspapers Ltd (ANL), publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, for illegal information gathering. The Duke of Sussex made a surprise appearance at High Court in London when the legal case began in March, and ultimately attended three days of the four day-hearing

The hearing was held to consider legal arguments from both sides and will conclude with a judge's ruling on whether the case should go to trial. ANL has denied any wrongdoing and argued that the case should be thrown out because of the six-year rule, which the High Court rejected, Reuters reported.

On Nov. 10, the High Court ruled that the case could continue to trial.

"In my judgment, the claimants have a real prospect of demonstrating not only that the unlawful acts themselves were concealed, but also, in many instances, further devices were employed in the published articles to throw the subject 'off the scent'," Mr. Justice Nicklin said in the ruling, according to the BBC. "Several claimants complain that they believed that their confidences were being betrayed by people close to them."

Associated Newspapers, Libel Claims

Prince Harry may be called to give evidence in London court next year after losing an attempt to have the Mail on Sunday's defense of his libel lawsuit thrown out.

On Dec. 8, Justice Nicklin said in his judgment that the Duke of Sussex’s lawsuit against ANL over a 2022 article alleging that he only offered to pay for police protection after bringing a separate legal fight against the British government should proceed to trial.

Prince Harry tried to have ANL’s defense dismissed earlier this year and now must pay the newspaper’s costs of $60,796.87 by Dec. 29, Sky News reported. According to the outlet, a libel trial will be held between May and July of 2024 if a settlement is not reached by both parties.

The Duke of Sussex previously sued ANL for libel over two articles published by the Mail on Sunday and Mail Online in October 2020, alleging he had not been in contact with the Royal Marines since stepping back from his royal role. Harry won, and planned to donate the damages to the Invictus Games Foundation, the BBC reported the following February.

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