Prince Harry hacking case – latest: Duke of Sussex to find out if he has won landmark case against Mirror Group Newspapers

Key points

Prince Harry to find out if he has won hacking case against Mirror Group NewspapersLaura Bundock analysis: Stakes could not be higher – as win could open gates for more costly claimsExplained: What happened in court so far

09:31:21 The 33 articles at the centre of Prince Harry’s claim

Some 33 articles, dated between 1996 and 2009, were selected for examination during the trial of Prince Harry’s contested claim against MGN.

MGN told the trial in London it denies that 28 out of the 33 articles involved unlawful information gathering, and that it was not admitted for the remaining five articles.

Here are the headlines from the 33 articles: 

“Diana so sad on Harry’s big day” – Daily Mirror on 16 September 1996″Princes take to the hills for gala” – Daily Mirror on 17 July 2000″3am – Harry’s time at the bar” – Daily Mirror on 19 September  2000″Snap… Harry breaks thumb like William; Exclusive” – Daily Mirror on 11 November 2000″Rugger off Harry” – Sunday Mirror on 11 November 2000″Harry took drugs” and “Cool it Harry” – Sunday Mirror on 13  January 2002″Harry’s cocaine ecstasy and GHB parties” – The Mirror on 14 January 2002″Harry’s sick with kissing disease” – Daily Mirror on 29 March 2002″No Eton trifles for Harry, 18″ – 16 September 2002″Matured Harry is a godfather” – The People on 20 April 2003″Harry to lead cadet’s march” – Daily Mirror on 29 April 2003″Harry is ready to quit Oz” – Daily Mirror on 27 September 2003″Beach bum Harry” – Daily Mirror on 16 December 2003″Wills.. Seeing Burrell is only way to stop him selling more Diana secrets. Harry no.. Burrell’s a two-faced s*** who’ll use visit to make money” – The People on 28 December 2003″Harry is a Chelsy fan” – Daily Mirror on 29 November 2004″When Harry met Daddy… The biggest danger to wildlife in Africa” – Daily Mirror on 13 December 2004″Harry’s girl ‘to dump him'” – Daily Mirror on 15 January 2005″Chelsy is not happy” – Daily Mirror on 15 January 2005″You did what!” – Sunday Mirror on 6 February 2005″Who dares Windsors” – Daily Mirror on 4 March 2005″Chelsy’s gap EIIR” – The People on 24 April 2005″Harry carry!” – The People on 15 May 2005″Chel shocked” – The People on 9 April 2006″Davy stated” – The People on 16 September 2007″Hooray Harry’s dumped” – Sunday Mirror on 11 November 2007″Down in the dumped” – Daily Mirror on 12 November 2007″Er, OK if I drop you off here?” – Sunday Mirror on 2 December 2007″Harry fear as mobile is swiped” – Daily Mirror on 26 July 2008″Soldier Harry’s Taliban” – The People on 28 September 2008″He just loves boozing & army she is fed up & is heading home” – Sunday Mirror on 25 January 2009″3am: What a way to Harry on” – Daily Mirror on 26 March 2009″Harry’s date with Gladiators star” – The People on 19 April 2009″Chelsy’s new fella” – The People on 26 April 2009

You can read what was said about them during evidence below… 

09:15:09 Analysis: Stakes could not be higher – as win could open gates for more costly claims

Even a partial win for Prince Harry and the other claimants today could “open the gates” for dozens more claims, says royal correspondent Laura Bundock.

This would be “very costly” for the newspaper group and there could be “some very difficult questions arising about who knew what and when”, she says.

“The stakes for both sides today could not be higher.”

As for the duke, it is a “deeply personal” case, Bundock explains.

“He claims that Mirror Group newspapers repeatedly hacked and blagged his private information causing him great distress and suffering in all aspects of his life.

“He believes it was habitual and widespread, something the newspaper group strongly denies.”

The case is much more than the articles involving Harry; the judge will be deciding on a case asking “very serious questions” about whether senior executives at the newspapers knew or encouraged phone hacking and blagging.

This is something the group strongly denies, as does former editor Piers Morgan, she says.

“At 10.30am this morning, we will find out who has won.”

09:10:10 Explained: What happened during the case

The trial took place over seven weeks this summer, with Prince Harry facing eight hours of questioning over two days in June during a landmark court appearance that attracted international media coverage.

Dozens of witnesses gave evidence, including former journalists, editors, private investigators and MGN executives.

Many other witnesses also submitted written testimony to the trial, such as the friends, family and colleagues of those bringing cases against the publisher.

In his opening arguments, the duke’s lawyer, David Sherborne, claimed that Mirror journalists listened to voicemail messages from Princess Diana while Piers Morgan was editor of the newspaper.

He also told the court how alleged intrusion caused “mistrust” between Harry and Prince William, and that “the ups and downs and ins and outs” of his relationship with ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy “were all revealed and picked apart by the three Mirror Group titles” – something that was “clearly driven by unlawful activity”.

MGN largely contested the claims and denied that any newspaper articles complained of resulted from phone hacking.

The vast majority did not arise from any other unlawful activity, the publisher said.

MGN made a limited number of admissions of unlawful activity in relation to the duke, Ms Sanderson and Ms Wightman, for which the publisher apologised and accepted they will be entitled to some damages.

But it denied the majority of their claims – and Mr Turner’s entire case.

09:06:44 Good morning

We are bringing you live updates as Prince Harry is set to learn the outcome of his hacking trial against the publisher of the Daily Mirror.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, sued Mirror Group Newspapers  – which also publishes the Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People – after claiming its journalists were linked to unlawful information gathering, including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and using private investigators for unlawful activities.

His case was heard alongside claims brought by actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell and most famous for playing Kevin Webster in Coronation Street, together with fellow soap actress Nikki Sanderson and the ex-wife of comedian Paul Whitehouse, Fiona Wightman.

They allege the unlawful activity took place from 1991 up to 2011.

A ruling is due to be given this morning at the High Court in London by Mr Justice Fancourt, who oversaw a high-profile trial of the allegations in June.

Stay with us as we bring you all the latest.

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