Duke of Sussex & Others vs ANL: thread 4

[bluegreygreen]

This is the fourth thread discussing the case Prince Harry (and 6 others) brought against the Daily Mail (Associated Newspapers Limited; ANL) for alleged unlawful information gathering (UIG).

The claimants are: Prince Harry (PH); Doreen Lawrence (DL); Liz Hurley (EH/LH); Elton John (EJ); David Furnish (DF); Simon Hughes (SH); Sadie Frost (SF).
They are represented by David Sherborne (DS).
The defendant (ANL) is represented by Anthony White (AMW).

The threads to date have been thorough discussions of the evidence (so far as we were able to obtain it), with posters giving links and explaining their views. We have mostly kept things civil by avoiding partisan discussions on specific Royal Family members, and trying not to be derailed from the topic of court proceedings.
The case has concluded and we are now awaiting the judgement from Judge Nicklin.

We have also included (when things slowed with the title case) other cases or discussions with a specific theme of free speech/press freedom, particularly when related to those with money or power preventing others from speaking.

One current ongoing case is that involving @GwendolineFairfax8 - some details towards the end of thread 3.
The case is in court this week and is likely to be reported on at the end of the week.

Links to previous threads

Thread 1

Thread 2

Thread 3

There was limited direct reporting from court after the celebrities gave evidence; what there we followed on this link
Sky news link to court case

Thank you @PrayForMyBum. Very interesting.

@bluegreygreen Each side will have their own views. Both like to spin as a victory or that this has been worthwhile! Each litigant will probably say something. However they get the judgement at the same time.

I’m confused! @bluegreygreenhasn't said anything to the contrary 🤷‍♀️

Thanks @Indianrollerbird - that makes sense, of course.

Thanks @MeetMeOnTheCorner - I do know that.

The question was about what they might be 'prepping', so I was thinking about that.
Indianrollerbird has reminded me that they are of course likely to be reviewing all aspects of the judgement as well.

@PrayForMyBum You might be interested to know that ANL is expecting a judgment around the end of the month (May). I'm assuming they've had a heads-up. To say they are confident is something of an understatement....

I do hope so. And I really hope that the judgement tears Harry's dishonesty to pieces. I'm so tired of him never facing consequences for his behaviour.

@Cornflowers35 can we ask why it was adjourned? No worries if not but hope it is something @GwendolineFairfax8 wanted.

Morning @RecollectionsMayVary - the Judge got visibly sick and lost her voice. It was absolutely not what Gwen wanted but she also did not want a new judge on the last day of the trial. The same Judge will hear the case in September and she is very happy about that.
Apologies, but she cannot respond to any other questions right now.
I am sure she will post when we get the judgement on ANL.

They cannot possibly hand over to a new judge for one day! Never going to happen!

That makes a lot of sense, Indianrollerbird, but it'll be no bad thing when this is over and sorted

I think it was said - no idea how correctly - that the judge is about to be promoted so will probably want to get this done sharpish, but at least it sounds as if there may not be too much longer to wait

According to my learned friend chez moi it's unlikely the embargo on such a case will hold long so we can look forward to at least getting some rumours soon enough

Fabulous. I wonder if H&M have had a heads up and this is what has spun out MM in recent days with her random IG dump? When was PH last seen in public - would be interesting to track his mood….

Whenever my DH gets one, I have to guess from his mood how the case has been decided! It's a contempt of court to break the embargo, so the entitled celebs involved in this matter need to be mindful of this. It won't be hard to trace back a rumour to their camp.

It would be amazing if judgement was delivered at the end of the month. Long and stressful few years. However it may also be a technical impossibility given the huge amounts of evidence. In any event I am literally praying.

I would love to track Hugh Grant’s mood! He rarely mentions this on X now and is on a new campaign of banning mobile phones/laptops in schools. Interesting 🤔

I do remind him occasionally 😊

My Daily Mail journalist drove 3 hours to visit me today - on a Bank Holiday in searing heat. No news on the judgement I’m afraid. If he knows he’s not telling. I don’t blame him as I can be quite ‘leaky’.

You ok Gwen ? , don’t worry about filling us in , just want to know you are ok 👍

Good to see you @GwendolineFairfax8 - hope you're OK.

I saw on X that a verdict is coming in the next week or two.

Following thread now for when the verdict becomes public. Good luck @GwendolineFairfax8

Interesting timing - right before Harry's "olive branch 🌿 reconciliation tour"

Yes makes me wonder if all this current desperation to reconcile is because Harold knows it’s not going his way and he’s going to need the bank of Pa to pay his hefty bills?

If that is right all sides would have had the draft judgment so it fits.

However I'll remain sceptical until we see if the judgement drops in a couple of weeks!

I was wondering if courts / judges have a summer recess - or at least aim to get things over the line ahead of the August holidays. Someone said earlier in the thread that they understood that both parties had the judgement on a confidential basis ahead of it going public but I don’t know how long that period would be realistically.

It would be interesting though if PH has lost and knows this already - would he put himself and his family in the firing line on UK soil at the time of publication?

Maybe it’s the opposite and he’s coming on a victory parade - I might have hired an open topped bus to drive down Fleet Street and then up The Mall….

Any thoughts on speculation from
Tom Sykes that the judgement will come this week and it’s not good for the claimants. Obviously PH has been chaotic and frenzied all weekend apparently about ‘security’ - but might be because he has had embargoed notice. Has anyone noticed any twitching or unusual manoeuvres from the other celebs?

@Twisterr Fewer cases in August, but not in June.

I think Harry is not coming and will blame his father for not insisting on security as Harry wishes to have it.