Newspaper group apologises to Prince Harry

The publisher of the Daily Mirror has apologised to the prince in court documents released on the first day of his latest phone hacking trial.

Prince Harry has scored an early victory in his latest phone hacking trial. (Photo by Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

The publisher of British tabloid The Daily Mirror has apologised to Prince Harry on the first day of his latest phone hacking trial.

Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) apologised for unlawful information gathering and said it would never be repeated.

Prince Harry’s lawyers told the court he was subjected to the “most intrusive methods of obtaining personal information”.

In court documents released at the start of the trial, MGN admitted there was “evidence of the instruction of third parties to engage in other types of UIG (unlawful information gathering).”

The publisher added: “MGN unreservedly apologises for all such instances of UIG.”

Prince Harry is also involved in legal action against the publisher of the Daily Mail, who he has accused of phone hacking. The newspaper denies the claims. (Photo by Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)

MGN admitted to using a private investigator to unlawfully gather information about the prince on a visit to Chinawhite nightclub in 2004.

Harry’s lawyers alleged executives at the company knew about widespread phone hacking but failed to act.

MGN denies it engaged in phone hacking.

The statements form part of the publisher’s defence to claims brought by Harry and other individuals, including the estate of the late singer George Michael, over alleged unlawful information gathering at MGN titles, which also include The Sunday Mirror and The Sunday People.

The publisher denies any involvement in the case of one claimant - Michael Turner.

A previous hearing was told Harry’s case is that 148 articles published between 1996 and 2010 included information that was allegedly obtained through methods, including phone hacking.

The High Court hearing set to last six or seven weeks. Harry himself is expected to give evidence in June.

Representing the publisher, Andrew Green KC said the apology was not made with the “tactical objective of reducing damages... but is made because such conduct should never have occurred”.

The trial against MGN is the lastest of several cases brought against the tabloid press by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex over the last few years.

Harry is also party to actions linked to alleged phone hacking against two other companies - the publisher of The Daily Mail, and the publisher of The Sun. Both companies deny wrongdoing.