During a recent hearing, the court was informed that the claimants' legal team was asked to search for and disclose documents related to payments or inducements offered to witnesses, amid concerns over their inconsistent disclosure practices.

The judge criticized the claimants for their 'inconsistent and incoherent' approach to document disclosure, raising serious questions about the reliability of their evidence.

To investigate potential unlawful information gathering, the court approved targeted un-redactions of certain documents, including communications involving journalists.

Prince Harry learned of his potential legal claim against the publisher through his barrister, with his interest in media-related cases sparked by a meeting with Elton John.

The case involves allegations against 82 journalists, editors, and executives from Associated Newspapers, relating to 53 articles published in the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday.

Several claimants, including Baroness Lawrence and Sadie Frost, were informed of their status as alleged victims through their barristers or media reports.

The trial is scheduled to commence in January 2026, following a two-day case management hearing where evidence disclosure was discussed.

The publisher denies the allegations, claiming that payments made by the claimants' legal team, including a £5,000-a-month deal with private investigator Gavin Burrows, were used to secure evidence.

Both Associated Newspapers and ANL have denied all allegations, describing them as 'lurid' and 'preposterous,' and are actively defending the case.

Prince Harry, along with other claimants such as Liz Hurley and Elton John, is suing ANL over allegations of unlawful activities including phone tapping, wiretapping, blagging private records, and burglaries.

The judge rejected requests for broader call data and allegations of unlawful information gathering across all Mail titles to keep the case focused and manageable.

Claimants were ordered to search for documentation related to a significant event involving communications between Prince Harry and other claimants that prompted their legal action.

Limited documents revealed that payments, including a £5,000-a-month deal with private investigator Gavin Burrows, were made or offered to procure evidence.

The upcoming trial, expected to last nine weeks, could incur legal costs up to £38 million, with the judge emphasizing that the absence of relevant documents might undermine the claimants' credibility.