Phone-hacking: Prince Harry key figure in May trial

Prince Harry volition beryllium astatine the centre of a proceedings against a paper steadfast implicit phone-hacking allegations.

The Duke of Sussex is 1 of a fig of high-profile figures bringing damages claims against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) implicit alleged unlawful accusation gathering.

The proceedings is owed to statesman connected 9 May, the week aft the King's coronation.

He is 1 of a fistful of typical claimants selected arsenic trial cases astatine a proceeding successful London.

Other celebrities progressive successful the lawsuit see the vocalist and erstwhile Girls Aloud prima Cheryl, the property of the precocious vocalist George Michael, ex-footballer and TV presenter Ian Wright and histrion Ricky Tomlinson.

Mr Justice Fancourt ruled connected Wednesday that the duke's assertion should beryllium 1 of those tried, saying it was an "obvious selection" due to the fact that his assertion covers an extended play of clip and 24 backstage investigators.

The tribunal heard that the duke's lawsuit is that 148 articles published betwixt 1996 and 2010 included accusation that was allegedly obtained done unlawful means, including telephone hacking.

The justice said the fig of articles to beryllium considered astatine proceedings should beryllium reduced to astir 33.

He said the duke's lawsuit is 1 which "will not settle", connected the ground of what helium has work and heard successful court, adding: "So it volition person to beryllium tried astatine immoderate signifier and mightiness arsenic good beryllium tried now."

David Sherborne, representing the claimants, said the duke would beryllium the lone witnesser successful his claim.

The different claimants selected for proceedings are erstwhile Coronation Street histrion Nikki Sanderson, comedian Paul Whitehouse's ex-wife Fiona Wightman and histrion Michael Turner.

MGN is contesting the claims, arguing that immoderate person been brought excessively late.

The steadfast of titles including the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People, MGN has antecedently settled a fig of claims against it successful narration to unlawful accusation gathering, arsenic has News Group Newspapers (NGN) - the steadfast of the now-defunct News Of The World and the Sun - successful a abstracted ongoing ineligible action.