LONDON — The upcoming trial of Prince Harry against the publisher of The Sun marks the latest development in a protracted legal battle that stretches back over twenty years, highlighting the contentious nature of the British press, especially during its heyday when tabloids were a primary source of public information and discourse.

The legal turmoil has had significant repercussions, leading to the dismantling of a tabloid owned by Rupert Murdoch and incurring substantial financial losses for him due to settlements related to numerous lawsuits initiated by individuals targeted by the tabloids. Harry’s ongoing efforts to rein in the British press stem from his belief that it has caused considerable distress within his family, adversely affected his life, and targeted both his late mother, Princess Diana, and his spouse, Meghan Markle.

A timeline of key events illustrates the extent of this tumultuous saga:

**November 2005**: The News of the World, a tabloid under Murdoch’s ownership, reports on a knee injury sustained by Prince William. A complaint from Buckingham Palace triggers a police inquiry, which uncovers that the information was procured via a hacked voicemail.

**January 2007**: Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire is sentenced to six months in prison for his involvement in hacking royal aides’ phones. Clive Goodman, the tabloid’s royal editor, receives a four-month sentence. Goodman later admits to hacking William’s phone on multiple occasions, including over 150 times on that of his then-girlfriend, now Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton. Initially, Murdoch’s company claimed these actions were due to rogue employees lacking editorial oversight.

**January 2011**: British authorities resume an investigation into tabloid phone hacking after new information surfaces from the News of the World.

**April 2011**: The tabloid concedes liability for its phone hacking practices and agrees to pay actress Sienna Miller £100,000 to settle her own hacking lawsuit. Following this, Murdoch’s News Corp. has faced numerous legal claims from various high-profile individuals, but it has consistently denied responsibility for any hacking conducted by The Sun.

**July 2011**: The Guardian reveals that News of the World journalists intercepted phone messages from Milly Dowler, a murdered 13-year-old girl, during the police search for her in 2002, inciting public outrage and leading to the closure of the paper after 168 years of publication.

**November 2012**: A judge-led investigation into media practices, commissioned by then-Prime Minister David Cameron, concludes that reprehensible behavior by some members of the press has severely impacted innocent lives, prompting recommendations for robust press regulation—many of which remain unimplemented.

**October 2013**: Former editors of the News of the World face trial on charges related to illegal activities including phone tapping. The trial culminates in an 18-month prison sentence for Andy Coulson, while Rebekah Brooks is acquitted and continues to work as the chief executive of Murdoch’s British newspaper business.

**December 2015**: The chief prosecutor in England announces no further criminal actions will be taken against Murdoch’s UK entity or its workers, despite ongoing settlements by both Murdoch’s company and its rival Mirror Group Newspapers concerning hacking lawsuits.

**2019 onward**: Prince Harry embarks on legal action against multiple newspaper groups, asserting that his private life has been invaded through illegal means including hacking and deceit.

**February 2021**: Meghan, Harry’s wife, prevails in a privacy invasion case against Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Daily Mail, regarding the unauthorized release of a personal letter she penned to her estranged father.

**June 2023**: In a significant moment, Harry stands as a witness in his lawsuit against the Mirror Group, marking the first time a British royal has done so in a century.

**December 2023**: A judge rules in Harry’s favor against the Mirror Group, confirming that the newspapers engaged in persistent illegal activities over a long period. He is awarded legal expenses and £140,000 in damages.

**February 2024**: To resolve remaining claims, the Mirror Group consents to compensate Harry, leading him to declare that he feels vindicated while affirming that his fight continues.

**January 21, 2025**: The upcoming trial against The Sun initiates as Harry and former Labour MP Tom Watson are the last claimants to pursue their case in court, following many others who opted for settlement. Harry is expected to give evidence during the ensuing 10-week trial.

Harry’s lawsuit against Associated Newspapers, which includes the Daily Mail, persists as part of this extensive legal journey.