UK tabloid publisher apologises as Prince Harry phone hacking trial begins

The publisher of the 'Daily Mirror' newspaper is on trial in the UK High Court over allegations of phone hacking. Prince Harry is one of the celebrities whose claims are being sued against the publisher. Meanwhile, on Wednesday the publisher of the newspaper apologized for ordering the collection of information illegally.

The publisher of 'Daily Mirror' is London-based Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN). MGN released court documents at the start of the trial in the High Court but denied the allegations of phone hacking.

However, it acknowledged that there were some instructions to third parties to collect other types of illegal information (UIG) in respect of each celebrity.

Harry, 38, and about 100 other celebrities, including actors, sports stars and TV personalities, have sued the publisher. They accuse the publisher of large-scale phone hacking and other illegal means of extracting personal information between 1991 and 2021.

Earlier in the hearing, Harry's case was told that 148 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information that was allegedly obtained through other means, including phone hacking. His lawyers argue that company executives knew about the widespread phone hacking, but failed to act.

MGN has previously settled certain claims regarding information obtained through illegal means. It argues that the latest set of claims being brought before the court are too late and beyond the legal time limit.

Prince Harry has also accused two other publishers, Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) and News Group Newspapers (NGN), of being involved in the act of hacking his phone. However, both have denied this.