Prince Harry, Sadie Frost and others take Daily Mail to court over privacy violations

LONDON: In a significant development, Prince Harry, the Hollywood actress Sadie Frost and other high-profile figures are suing the Daily Mail newspaper, claiming that the publication invaded their private lives between 2000 and 2010. The case is being heard in London’s High Court.

Sadie Frost, 60, told the court that her personal information had been exposed in ways that left her deeply humiliated. She described being targeted through voicemail hacking, as well as surveillance of her landline and car, mostly related to her relationship with ex-husband Jude Law. “It felt like there was a price on my head,” she said. The intrusion, she added, contributed to illness and required treatment for post-natal depression.

Frost rejected suggestions that her friends or family could have leaked sensitive information, noting that they would not have known the private details. She said most of the stories reached the press only after being obtained through hacking.

The lawsuit also includes claims from singer Elton John, actress Elizabeth Hurley, and five other public figures. Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday, denies any wrongdoing. The company says some information came from freelance journalists with confidential sources and argues that Frost’s lawsuit was filed too late, beyond the six-year legal limit.

Supporting statements from actors, including Billie Piper and Patsy Kensit, were submitted to the court, backing the claimants’ belief that private information had been obtained unlawfully. Associated Newspapers disputes these claims, calling them inaccurate and irrelevant.

The case highlights ongoing concerns in the UK over press intrusion and the balance between media freedom and individual privacy, drawing attention to the ways high-profile figures are protected, or violated, by the tabloid press.