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image source, Reuters
The last time Harry was seen in the UK was at Queen Elizabeth’s funeral.
Wiretapping and other privacy violations.
That is what several celebrities in the United Kingdom accuse the publishing company of the tabloid The Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers, in court.
Among the celebrities is Prince Harry, who lives in the United States and who made a surprise visit to the court in London on Monday, and the singer Elton John.
The Duke of Sussex claims that the publication of some articles caused him “suspicion and paranoia”.
The publishing company “strongly denies” all the claims against it.
image source, Reuters
Sir Elton John arrived around noon.
The two celebrities are part of a group – including actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley – who allege the company obtained information illegally.
The four-day preliminary hearing in London is considering legal arguments and a judge will decide whether the case goes ahead. Associated Newspapers (ANL) wants to end the claims without going to trial.
“Each of the plaintiffs claims that, in different ways, they were the victims of numerous illegal acts carried out by the defendant, or by those who acted on the instructions of their newspapers, the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday,” it said. David Sherbornethe lawyer of the celebrity group.
The alleged illegal activity included “illegally intercepting voicemail messages, listening to live calls, obtaining private information such as itemized phone bills or medical records by deception,” it added.
The activity also allegedly included “the use of private investigators to commit these illegal acts of information gathering and even commissioning the trespassing and trespassing of private property.”
Those alleged crimes, he said, “span a period from 1993 to 2011, and even continue beyond that to 2018.”
All “suspicious”
In a document filed on behalf of Prince Harry, Sherborne said the duke was “concerned that, through Associated’s illegal acts, he was largely deprived of important aspects of his adolescence.”
“Because of how the articles were written, they led to believe that people close to him were the source of this information being provided to Associated (…) As a result, friends were lost or cut off and everyone became ‘suspects.’ “.
“Plaintiff considers Associated’s illegal acts to amount to gross treason given promises made by the media to improve his conduct following the tragic and untimely death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.”
image source, Reuters
Sir Elton’s lawyer said the musician and his husband were “shocked” by ANL’s conduct.
Sherborne said that, for his part, Elton John and his husband were embarrassed that “all their conversations, some of which were very personal, were wiretapped, recorded, packaged and consumed as a commercial product for journalists and other strangers to listen to.” regardless of whether they were published or not”.
Sherborne also told the court that a private investigator acting on behalf of Associated Newspapers hacked into the actress’s phone. Liz Hurley and placed a “mini-microphone” attached to the window of his house.
She added that her ex-boyfriend’s car Hugh Grant was tapped to illegally obtain information about her finances, travel plans, and medical exams during her pregnancy.
Associated Newspapers has said it categorically denies the serious allegations.
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