Princess Kate wins key ruling as judge excludes phone hack claims from Harry’s legal feud
Princess Kate took sigh of relief as a High Court judge ruled allegations about the future queen’s phone being targeted won’t be part of Prince Harry’s ongoing legal feud.
The Princess of Wales was dragged into the Duke of Sussex court case as it was claimed Kate’s phone had been targeted by a private investigator.
Harry is one of seven prominent figures taking action against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).
The group, which also includes Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Liz Hurley, allege that the company engaged in unlawful information-gathering, such as hiring private investigators to install listening devices, obtaining private records through deception, and intercepting phone calls.
David Sherborne, representing the claimants, said a record from a private investigator allegedly showed a journalist commissioning him to carry out a “mobile phone conversion” related to Prince william’s wife Princess Kate, along with a list of “family and friends” contact numbers.
However, in a written ruling on Friday, Justice Nicklin rejected the attempt to add this new allegation to the case.
He said: “If the amendment were allowed it would open up a significant new area of investigation for Associated and it is too late given the proximity of the trial date.”
Lawyers acting for the claimants, who also include David Furnish, Sadie Frost and Sir Simon Hughes, are expected to appeal against the decision, arguing that it is wrong in fact and in law.