Prince Harry and more than 40 other individuals are taking legal action against News Group Newspapers (NGN), accusing media magnate Rupert Murdoch of being involved in a cover-up of wrongdoing. The lawsuit alleges unlawful invasions of privacy by tabloids The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World from the mid-1990s until 2016.
The Duke of Sussex’s lawyers claim that Mr. Murdoch, along with Rebekah Brooks, the chief executive of News UK, gave false evidence and engaged in a cover-up. The case is set to go to trial in January, lasting up to eight weeks.
The claimants, which include British film director Guy Ritchie, actor Hugh Grant, and campaigner Doreen Lawrence, have asked the court for permission to add new allegations to their case against NGN. These new allegations include claims that senior executives gave misleading evidence to parliament and a public inquiry.
NGN is resisting the application, with their lawyers stating that the changes are unnecessary and irrelevant. The company has settled over 1,300 claims related to phone-hacking but has always denied any wrongdoing by staff at The Sun.
The court is expected to make a judgment on the case at a later date, following a hearing that is set to conclude on Friday. The allegations against Mr. Murdoch and others have sparked a heated legal battle, shedding light on the inner workings of tabloid journalism and media ethics.