Royal | News - Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Prince Harry will not travel to London for the first day of his trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun, which Harry claims used unethical and illegal methods to gather stories about him for years.
The Telegraph understands Harry will not attend the trial tomorrow, January 21 but is scheduled to testify in court in February.
Deputy royal editor of the news outlet, Victoria Ward, posted on X: “Prince Harry will not attend the opening of his trial against News Group Newspapers when it gets underway at the High Court tomorrow, the Telegraph understands.
“He will return to the UK to give evidence later in February.”
Harry’s trial against News Group Newspapers (NGN) centres on allegations of unlawful information gathering by journalists and private investigators. NGN has denied any wrongdoing.
The trial officially begins on January 21 and is expected to last seven weeks as it involves multiple plaintiffs.
During his appearance at The New York Times’s DealBook Summit in December, the Duke of Sussex said: “I am the last person that can actually achieve [accountability].”
The royal has since insisted that he wanted to achieve “closure” for the hundreds of others forced to settle. When Harry does give evidence later in the trial, it is thought his wife, Meghan Markle, will remain in America, with their two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
Actor Hugh Grant, who was previously determined to go to trial with similar allegations against NGN, settled out of court last year because the legal costs to him personally could have been around £10 million – even if the judge found in his favour.
During his upcoming trip to his home country, Harry will reportedly be given “limited police protection” despite losing his legal battle for taxpayer-funded security.
Met Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley agreed to provide Harry with armed officers from the Royalty and Specialist Protection Command, a source has claimed.
Speaking to the Mirror about Harry’s upcoming visit to the UK, royal expert Jennie Bond said: “I think he will be mildly annoyed that he is not being given full police protection, but this is a step in the right direction as far as he is concerned…”