Prince Harry says he lost friends amid 'suspicion and paranoia' over 'unlawful articles' as legal battle continues

Prince Harry lost friends and, "everyone became a ‘suspect,'" claims his lawyer, speaking at the High Court on the Duke's behalf in his legal claim against the publisher who owns the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday, and MailOnline. The publisher in question, Associated Newspapers Limited, says the claims against them are, “unsubstantiated and highly defamatory, based on no credible evidence”, and wants them dismissed without a trial.

• Prince Harry's lawyer spoke on his behalf, as the Duke made a surprise appearance at the High Court.
• Other public figures including Sir Elton John, Sadie Frost, and Elizabeth Hurley, who are among the public figures suing ANL for alleged unlawful activity, were also in attendance.
• In other royal news, Prince Harry to miss out on royal reunions with King Charles and Prince William as he makes unexpected UK return.

Prince Harry's lawyer David Sherborne filed a document on his client's behalf, claiming that the Prince is, “troubled that, through Associated’s unlawful acts, he was largely deprived of important aspects of his teenage years."

Per the Independent, Sherborne continued that the way the allegedly unlawful articles were written misled him to believe that everyone close to him was a 'suspect.' The, 'suspicion and paranoia,' experienced by the Prince led to him, 'cutting off or losing friends.'

Sherborne added that Prince Harry regards ANL's, "unlawful acts to amount to a major betrayal given promises made by the media to improve its conduct following the tragic and untimely death of his mother, Princess Diana, in 1997.”

The Prince is one of seven high-profile individuals, all being represented by Sherborne, who are suing ANL - the publisher of the Daily Mail, the Mail on Sunday, and MailOnline. The other claimants are Sir Elton John, Sadie Frost, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Elizabeth Hurley, and former Lib Dem MP Sir Simon Hughes. 

Claimants allege that ANL hired private investigators to put listening devices in homes and cars, recorded private phone calls, and accessed financial information, bank records, and medical records, “through illicit means and manipulation."

The hearing, which is before Mr. Justice Nicklin, is due to reach its conclusion on Thursday, March 30, 2023 - just over a month before the King's Coronation. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's Coronation invite has been confirmed - but their attendance has not. As the days pass and it gets nearer and nearer to King Charles's Coronation, it remains to be seen whether the Sussexes will cross the pond for the huge event.

The question as to where will Prince Harry and Meghan Markle stay if they attend the King's coronation remains to be seen. Following the confirmation of Harry and Meghan's Frogmore Cottage departure, they no longer have an official UK home - which also further complicates their security concerns.

Prince Harry has been outspoken regarding security concerns for his family while they're in the UK and the added unsettling aspect of losing their British base may compound these concerns.