Elizabeth Hurley (L) arrives with her son Damian Hurley outside the High Court; Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at court

Elizabeth Hurley, Damian Hurley and Prince Harry arrive at the High Court in London on Jan. 22, 2026.Credit : HENRY NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty; Neil Mockford/GC Images

 

Prince Harry is showing his support for the other claimants in his case against the publishers of the Daily Mail.

The Duke of Sussex, 41, attended the High Court in London on Jan. 22 as actress Elizabeth Hurley  gave evidence. Hurley, 60, was pictured ariving at the court with her son Damian, 23, by her side.

It came a day after Harry had himself sat in the witness box answering questions about his complaints against Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday. The other claimants include Elton John and his husband David Furnish, and Jude Law’s ex-wife Sadie Frost. Together, they accuse Associated Newspapers of using unlawful methods to gather information.

On Jan. 22, Harry took a seat in court 76, while Hurley took her place in the witness box shortly after 10:30 a.m. local time and was asked to swear on oath on a Bible to tell “the whole truth.” She was then asked a series of questions by Associated Newspapers’ lawyer, Antony White.

During questioning, Hurley was asked why she hadn’t complained at the time the 15 articles in her claim were published between 2002 and 2011. The model said she hadn’t made complaints because “they were in essence true.” “I believe it’s because people were listening to me speak,” she added.

About half way into her testimony, Hurley became tearful. She had been shown a series of articles — some about her relationship with the late Steve Bing, who is the father of her son Damian —when she broke down and needed to pause. She said she would never say anything publicly that “she didn’t want my son to read.”

Elizabeth Hurley (C) arrives with her son Damian Hurley (R) outside the High Court in London

Elizabeth Hurley and son Damian Hurley.ENRY NICHOLLS / AFP via Getty

She was asked if she wanted to break but she declined. A few moments later, her voice cracking, Hurley said, “It was a pretty traumatic time.”

Harry had been scheduled to be in court on Thursday anyway, as his original date for testimony was set for then. However, the timetable moved up due to the speed with which the lawyer for Associated Newspapers, Antony White, delivered his shorter-than-expected opening statement — something those close to Harry’s legal team criticized.

Hurley’s testimony was therefore moved up to Jan. 22.

The Duke of Sussex had ended his close to two hours in the witness box on Jan. 21 on an emotional note. Asked how the process had been, he said that in the years after he brought the case several years ago the newspapers had continued to target him and his wife, Meghan Markle, making her life “an absolute misery.”

Turning toward the judge, Harry’s voice broke as he spoke about the toll of the case.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at court during a court case against Associated Newspapers Ltd at The Royal Courts of Justice

Prince Harry.Neil Mockford/GC Images

“By standing up here and taking a stand against them, this has continued to come after me,” Harry said, his voice cracking with emotion. “And they have made my wife’s life an absolute misery, my Lord.”

Harry added, “Through the course of this litigation, it’s only got worse, not better,” he told the court. “It’s fundamentally wrong to put all of us through all of this again. What’s required is an apology and some accountability. It’s a horrible experience.”

About 30 minutes after the hearing, he left the court building in central London looking cheerier, smiling and briefly acknowledging well-wishers and photographers with a small wave.

Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrives at court during a court case against Associated Newspapers Ltd at The Royal Courts of Justice

Prince Harry.Neil Mockford/GC Images

In his witness statement, seen by PEOPLE, Harry said he felt compelled to take legal action after what he described as “vicious” and “sometimes racist” coverage of Meghan, 44, following the start of their relationship in 2016.

This case is Harry’s third — and final — legal battle against some British publications. A year ago, Harry reached a surprise settlement with the publisher of The Sun, which paid an eight-figure sum in damages and issued an unprecedented apology acknowledging unlawful actions. That had followed a a long-running case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), in which he was awarded damages. The publishers also paid around $500,000 for Harry’s legal fees.