More trouble for Prince Harry on bitter legal battle with Piers Morgan

A High Court judge in London ruled on Tuesday to prevent Prince Harry from adding media billionaire Rupert Murdoch and journalist Piers Morgan to his phone-hacking privileges.

Judge Fancourt ruled that the charges against the individuals were not related to the case, which will be tried in January 2025, and constituted a “new case.” Prince Harry, along with 40 others, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), publisher of The Sun and the now defunct News of the World, over alleged phone hacking and illegal data collection.

The publisher denies these claims. Murdoch owns NGN and Morgan, who has a well-known public feud with Prince Harry, edited the News of the World from 1994 to 1996. Plaintiffs seek to include those high-profile figures labeled as “trophy targets.” at the hearing, but Fancourt rejected the proposal, saying it could not be “an end in itself.” NGN responded: “In today’s decision, the court fully supported NGN’s position and did not allow any major and significant changes… NGN welcomes the judge’s rulings and comments.” The publisher emphasized that many similar allegations have previously been dealt with in criminal courts or police investigations.

• However, the court allowed Prince Harry’s lawyers to name and charge other journalists and private investigators involved in the case..