Associated Newspapers is being sued by a number of high-profile celebrities

 
Prince Harry joined Sir Elton John at Britain’s High Court as a case into allegations of alleged phone-tapping, and other breaches of privacy, begins.

The pair, along with actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley, are suing the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers.

Harry claims “suspicion and paranoia” were caused by some of the publisher’s articles.

Associated newspapers “vigorously denies” all the claims against it.

The four-day preliminary hearing in London is considering legal arguments and a judge will decide whether the case will go any further.

Associated Newspapers wants to end the ordeal without trial.

The lawyer for the group of prominent individuals says the allegations includes “illegally intercepting voicemail messages; listening into live landline calls; and obtaining private information”.

He says: “They each claim that in different ways they were the victim of numerous unlawful acts carried out by the defendant, or by those acting on the instructions of its newspapers, the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday.”