Prince Harry became emotional in London’s High Court as he testified that coverage by the Daily Mail had made his wife Meghan Markle’s life “an absolute misery.” Giving evidence in a privacy lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, the Duke of Sussex said the treatment by the publisher had worsened since he and other claimants launched legal action in 2022, adding that the experience of returning to court was deeply distressing.

Harry, who is among seven claimants including singer Elton John and actor Elizabeth Hurley, accused Associated of unlawful information-gathering practices such as phone hacking, bugging and deception. The publisher has rejected the claims as “preposterous,” insisting its journalists relied on legitimate sources and social contacts. Under cross-examination, Harry firmly denied that reporters were part of his social circle, saying he had never been friends with the journalists involved.

Describing Associated’s legal defence as “disgusting,” Harry said the case had reopened old trauma linked to years of intense media scrutiny, which he has long blamed for harming his family. He argued that the lawsuit was not only personal but a matter of public accountability, warning that if powerful media organisations evade justice, the right to privacy is undermined for everyone.

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