A long, winding timeline of Prince Harry's legal actions

The prince and his lawyers have been busy in recent years, so much so that a timeline is needed

Prince Harry has been and continues to be involved in a lot of legal cases in the past five-and-a-half years. There are so many that it took the better part of a week to find all the cases and orders and constructing a timeline.

Is it a complete timeline? Not even close.

News continues apace. The start of his case against Rupert Murdoch’s tabloids was scheduled to start today but delayed as both side talk to each other to see if they can negotiate a settlement before the trial begins.

Am I missing something? Quite possibly.

Some cases have had so many twists and turns that this timeline would be double, triple, or quadruple the length and still miss something. As well, cases interact with each other; information buried in the filings of one case can reveal new contexts in another. In addition, I’m more focused on cases that have ramifications beyond what is being argued, such as the security case. That said, give me a shout through Substack Notes or Comments (open to paid subscribers) if you think I’ve missed something or have made an error.

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THE CASES, BROKEN DOWN BY CATEGORY

I start with a listing of cases and appeals orders, identified by their case or order numbers, separated by subject, with shorthand background notes at the end of each legal action. Then the timeline.

SECURITY

Case number: CO/3224/2021 (done)

Before Mr. Justice Swift

Between

The Queen

On the application of

The Duke of Sussex

Claimant

And

Secretary of State for the Home Department

Defendant

Starts September 20, 2021

Judgement handed down July 2022

Background: Harry granted permission to apply for judicial review of decisions concerning arrangements for police-provided, publicly funded security for him when in the UK.

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Case number: AC/2021/LON/002527 (done)

Before Mr. Justice Lane

Between

The King (originally The Queen)

On the application of
The Duke of Sussex
-v-
The Secretary of State for the Home Department

Started after Justice Swift’s judgment in July 2022

Ended with judgment in Feb 2024

Background: Judge rules the government decision over his security is lawful, refuses permission for him to appeal. His lawyers filed a direct appeal to the Court of Appeal, which said in June 2024 that it will hear the claim in April 2025.

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Order number: CA-2024-00093 (done, though appeal is ongoing)

Appeal of Lane Judgment

Court of Appeal, Civil Division

Before: Right Honourable Lord Justice Bean

Between:

R (Duke of Sussex)

-v-

SSHD

Background: Order granting a partial appeal of Justice Lane’s judgment regarding security review was issued on May 23, 2024 (published on June 7), with some reluctance from Lord Bean: “I am persuaded, not without hesitation, that an appeal on Ground 1 would have a real prospect of success.”

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UNLAWFUL INFORMATION GATHERING / HACKING

Case number: BL-2019-001788 (NGN) (ongoing)

Before :

MR JUSTICE FANCOURT

Between :

HRH THE DUKE OF SUSSEX

Claimant

- and -

NEWS GROUP NEWSPAPERS LIMITED

Defendant

Started September 2019, trial January 2025

Background: News Group Newspapers, Murdoch / Sun, News of the World, 1996-2011. Harry not allowed to allege phone hacking, rejected argument of secret deal between Murdoch/publishers and the royal family

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Case number: HC-2000-00004 (NGN, related legal action to BL-2019-001788) (done)

Before :

Mr Justice Fancourt

Between :

Various Claimants (Duke of Sussex and Others)

Claimants

- and –

News Group Newspapers Ltd

Started February 13, 2024 by NGN, Judgment April 19, 2024

Background: News Group Newspapers, Murdoch / Sun, News of the World, 1996-2011

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Case number: HC-2000-000003 (MGN) (done)

Before: Mr Justice Fancourt

Between:
(1) The Duke of Sussex
(2) Nikki Sanderson
(3) Michael Turner
(4) Fiona Wightman
-v-
MGN Limited

Started September 2019, Judgment December 2023

Background: Publisher of Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, Sunday People, 1996-2011. Dec 2023 ruling in his favour, Harry settles rest of case in 2024

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Case number: KB-2022-003357 (ANL) (ongoing)

Before:
The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin

Between:

(1) Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE

(Claim Number: KB-2022-003316)

(2) Elizabeth Hurley

(Claim Number: KB-2022-003317)

(3) Sir Elton John CH CBE

(4) David Furnish

(Claim Number: KB-2022-003318)

(5) Sir Simon Hughes

(Claim Number: KB-2022-003340)

(6) Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex

(Claim Number: KB-2022-003357)

(7) Sadie Frost Law

(Claim Number: KB-2022-003404)

-and-

Associated Newspapers Limited

Launched October 2022, trial expected in 2026

Background: Associated Newspapers: Publisher of Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, MailOnline. Total legal costs on both sides estimated to exceed CAD$70 million combined.

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DEFAMATION / LIBEL

Case number: QB-2022-000595 (ANL) (done)

Before : THE HONOURABLE MR JUSTICE NICKLIN

Between :

The Duke of Sussex

Claimant

-and

Associated Newspapers Limited

Defendant

Starts September 2021, ends January 2024 when Harry drops it

Background: Defamation / libel case involving Mail on Sunday article about Harry threatening legal action against UK govt and demanding return of tax-payer funded security. He later drops it.

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Case number: QB-2020-004197 (ANL) (done)

Before: The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin

Between:

THE DUKE OF SUSSEX

Claimant

and

ASSOCIATED NEWSPAPERS

LIMITED

Defendant

Background: Legal actions (lawyer’s letter, etc.) start October 2020 over Mail on Sunday article accusing Harry of snubbing the Royal Marines, ends December 2020 when ANL apologizes and pays damages

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NOTE:

Duchess of Sussex legal case: Meghan sues ANL in October 2019 over Mail on Sunday printing extracts of letter written to her estranged father in 2018. She won a privacy claim in February 2021. ANL appeal rejected.