LONDON — A trial involving Prince Harry and other prominent British figures against the publisher of the Daily Mail is expected to commence in early 2026, as announced by London’s High Court on Tuesday. The legal expenses for the parties involved are anticipated to surpass 38 million pounds ($47.8 million).

Harry, the younger son of King Charles III, is one of seven individuals suing Associated Newspapers for alleged voicemail interception, commonly referred to as phone-hacking, along with other serious violations of privacy spanning the last 30 years.

Associated Newspapers, which also publishes the Mail on Sunday, has consistently denied any involvement in illegal activities. During a preliminary hearing, the company’s lawyers stated that the allegations made by the claimants are “firmly denied.”

The court’s decision last year to dismiss Associated’s effort to eliminate the lawsuits opened the door for a trial, which both the claimants and Associated have proposed should begin in early 2026.

The legal team for the claimants, which includes singer Elton John and actresses Elizabeth Hurley and Sadie Frost, projects that their costs will amount to approximately 18.4 million pounds ($23.1 million) leading up to and through the trial, while Associated’s costs are estimated to approach 20 million pounds ($25.1 million), according to documents made public on Tuesday.

The lawsuits filed by Harry and the other claimants in 2022 are significant as they are the first instance of Associated being implicated in the phone-hacking scandal that came to light over a decade ago and led to a comprehensive inquiry into journalistic ethics and multiple criminal prosecutions.

This scandal has also resulted in protracted legal battles against Rupert Murdoch’s UK newspaper division, News Group Newspapers, as well as the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN).

Harry’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers is one of several he has initiated against British media outlets as part of his campaign to hold accountable those he believes have spread misinformation and invaded privacy.

The prince previously accepted a significant payment from MGN as part of settling another phone-hacking lawsuit, receiving 140,600 pounds (approximately $178,000) after the High Court determined he was a victim of media intrusion.

Additionally, Harry’s case against News Group Newspapers is scheduled to go to trial in January.