Surprise visit home: According to British media reports, Prince Harry (38) arrived at the High Court in London for a hearing. According to the reports, his appearance was apparently not expected. The Duke of Sussex joins other figures in a lawsuit against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers. The allegation that he and the other stars raise: illegal information gathering and violation of privacy.

According to the Guardian, this is the first hearing in the case brought by Prince Harry, singer Elton John (76), actresses Sadie Frost (57) and Liz Hurley (57) and other celebrities against the tabloid editor. Among other things, it is said to be about allegedly tapped telephone calls. Associated Newspapers has denied the allegations, calling them “absurd defamation” ahead of the hearing, according to bbc.com.

In October, the law firm Hamlins, which represents Prince Harry, said in a statement that the plaintiffs had become victims of “heinous criminal activities”. In addition to alleged eavesdropping devices, the “Daily Mail” had private detectives on the clients, wiretapped telephone calls and bribed police officers, according to the allegations. The defendant also obtained medical information and bank documents illegally. These activities are only “the tip of the iceberg”.

Prince Harry’s wife, Duchess Meghan (41), with whom he moved to the United States in 2020, also sued the newspaper group after a letter from her to her father was published. She won the court case in December last year. The Mail on Sunday then printed an apology.