LIVE: Prince Harry Returns to UK — Daily Mail Court Verdict Out Now – as it happened
Prince Harry has landed in London alone, without Meghan or the kids. The much-publicised High Court ruling in his case against the Daily Mail's publisher is out now.
Started 2 days ago·11 updates
What we know so far
Harry arrived in London alone on Monday evening as his family stayed behind due to security concerns.
High Court judge Justice Matthew Nicklin is set to deliver his ruling today at 2pm GMT, via email, with no hearing.
His offer to stay one night at Buckingham Palace was reportedly withdrawn just before the judgment.
The court ruling did not go in Harry's favor, as the Duke lost the case against Associated Newspapers, the publishers behind the Daily Mail.
Hours after his court defeat, Prince Harry issued a scathing statement calling the verdict a "complete and obvious whitewash," accusing the judge of ignoring evidence from parallel hacking cases that had previously been won against News Group Newspapers and Mirror Group Newspapers.
He pointed to specific examples he says prove wrongdoing, including a private investigator allegedly caught on tape admitting to unlawfully "blagging" Baroness Lawrence, and another accused of sharing a young woman's British Airways ticketing details for payment. "We came to Court seeking justice and accountability. But we have received neither," Harry said, calling the outcome "shocking" and "totally unwarranted."
Prince Harry appeared in good spirits at the Invictus Games Foundation's Chatham House conference on Tuesday, cracking a light joke about the UK heatwave — "It is one of the few rooms in the U.K. that has air conditioning, so I can understand why every seat is full," he said with a smile. "I get it."
The moment came just minutes after he reportedly learned he'd lost his High Court privacy case against Associated Newspapers, though he kept a professional tone throughout his address, with his voice shaky at times.
Prince Harry chooses to not address the court ruling at Chatham House
Prince Harry had been at Chatham House for an Invictus Games event when the court ruling was released. He has reportedly been speaking ever since, but has chosen not to address the verdict. Instead, the Duke of Sussex has stuck to the pre-written script.
"What brings us together is far more important than what sets us apart,” he said, “Each country represented here is writing its own chapter."
Judge accepts journalists obtained details of Prince Harry's then-girlfriend through lawful contacts
One of the most sensational claims made by Prince Harry against Associated Newspapers is that the journalists secured details of his then-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy's identity by offering payment to a British Airways employee. Davy was identified after a trip to a ranch in Argentina.
In his ruling, Justice Niclin said, "I accept Ms Briley’s evidence that the correct spelling of Chelsy Davy’s name was not obtained from British Airways, but ultimately from the ranch contacts as described in the evidence. I also accept Ms Jones’ evidence that, once she had the correct name and the relevant family background, she located Ms Davy in Cape Town by conventional means. The claim in relation to this Article therefore fails."
The judge added that the claimants did not prove "the pleaded case on this Article" according to him.
Following Prince Harry's intense legal battle against Associated Newspapers, there will be a court hearing on July 29-30th 2026, to hear arguments on any points of dispute as to the consequential orders to be made following the Judgment.
Claimants reportedly fail to prove their claims, court says
Prince Harry was not the only one involved in the trial. He was joined by musician and his mother, Princess Diana's long-time friend, Elton John, David Furnish, actors Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, campaigner Doreen Lawrence, and former politician Sir Simon Hughes.
The court said, on Tuesday, that all claimants had failed to prove their claims against Associated Newspapers.
The Duke of Sussex has arrived at Chatham House for the Invictus Games Foundation Conversation: From Policy to Practice in London. Harry looked smart, as he sported a white shirt, dark blazer, and matching trousers.
This event will mark the first in a series of week-long celebrations of the tournament.
Nearly half of Britons think Harry should've been let into Buckingham Palace
New YouGov polling shows 48% of Britons believe Prince Harry should have been permitted to stay at Buckingham Palace during his UK visit, while 27% say he shouldn't have been. The numbers land just as the Duke's last-minute Palace snub continues to dominate headlines around his return.
Duke of Sussex may learn court verdict at Invictus Games Event
Prince Harry is set to attend the Invictus Games Foundation's 14th Conversation event this afternoon, a timing that could see him receive Mr Justice Nicklin's High Court judgment while he's on stage or in the room. The ruling caps his privacy lawsuit against the Daily Mail's publisher, Associated Newspapers, over allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful newsgathering dating back to the 1990s. Harry is the lead claimant among seven high-profile figures, including Elton John, in the case.
Duke of Sussex's five-day UK itinerary — what we know
Prince Harry landed in London late Monday night without Meghan or their two children, kicking off a five-day UK visit tied to the countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games. He kept things low-key at first, attending the premiere of Shoot the People to support friend Misan Harriman, before facing a packed Tuesday: awaiting the High Court's verdict in his Daily Mail privacy case while also making an appearance at the Invictus Games Foundation's 14th Conversation event.
The visit comes after his Buckingham Palace stay fell through at the last minute, with more charity engagements expected in London and Birmingham through July 11.
Abha Anindita
