Royal news – live: Prince Harry wins latest High Court legal round against the Sun publisher

Prince Harry has won the latest round in his court case against the publisher of the Sun newspaper, after a High Court judge rejected an application to delay the trial.

In the latest ruling, judge dismissed NGN’s request to push back the trial listed for next January, saying it would be “unsatisfactory” to delay proceedings to instead hold a narrower preliminary trial to decide if cases had been brought too late.

The Duke of Sussex alleges he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for NGN, which also published the now-defunct News Of The World.

It comes just two days after actor Hugh Grant revealed he had settled his case against the tabloid’s publisher due to the risk of running a £10m legal cost if the case went to trial.

David Sherborne, Harry’s lawyer, said that the former working royal is subject to the same issues and that the offers made make it “impossible for them to go ahead”.

In a statement on X, Mr Grant said he had not wanted to accept the money from the Rupert Murdoch owned group, but was warned that if awarded damages “even a penny less” than the settlement offer, he would be forced to pay the legal costs of both sides.

trial which would instead decide if the cases had been brought too late, with Prince Harry’s claims extending as far back as 1996.

Their lawyers said the court should first determine whether those bringing cases could have known they had a “worthwhile” claim six years before they issued theirs.

They argued this approach was the “most efficient” way of dealing with cases and could “promote” settlements, but the legal team for Harry and others said it would be “highly disruptive and prejudicial” and cause “substantial delay”.

In the latest ruling, Mr Justice Fancourt dismissed NGN’s request.

the duke, due to take place in January next year.

At a hearing earlier this week, NGN asked a judge to instead hold a narrower-in-scope preliminary trial that month to decide whether the cases against it have been brought too late and outside a legal time limit.

In a ruling on Friday, Mr Justice Fancourt dismissed NGN’s request.

The publisher has previously denied unlawful activity took place at The Sun.