Prince Harry to take the witness stand in just days as schedule for bitter legal battle revealed

His fellow claimants include music legend Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Liberal Democrat politician Sir Simon Hughes, and actors Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley.

A draft timetable for the proceedings, reviewed on Thursday, confirmed the schedule for Harry's anticipated court appearance.

The group alleges that ANL either directly carried out or commissioned a range of unlawful activities targeting them. Among the most serious claims is that the publisher hired private investigators who installed covert listening devices inside vehicles belonging to the claimants.

The lawsuit also accuses ANL of "blagging" confidential records, a practice involving deception to obtain private information. Additionally, the claimants maintain that the newspaper group gained unauthorised access to their private telephone conversations.

These allegations form the core of the case being brought before the London court, with the nine-week trial scheduled to commence on Monday.

A pre-trial hearing on Thursday addressed several unresolved matters before the case gets underway. Lawyers representing the claimants objected to certain language in ANL's proposed opening submissions, specifically concerning what has been described as a "scheme of camouflage".

The High Court heard that ANL's legal team has levelled serious accusations of dishonesty and fraud against members of the claimants' legal representatives.

David Sherborne, acting for the claimants, stated in written submissions: "The allegations made by the defendants are exceptionally serious, of fraud, dishonesty and professional misconduct."

He argued these claims "cannot be introduced by assertion in opening written submissions and are not simply commentary on pleaded issues."

Sherborne further contended that the defendant's allegations extended beyond merely questioning witness credibility, asserting that ANL "explicitly seeks findings" and claims actions amounted to "a calculated attempt to withhold the true position from the court."

Antony White KC, representing ANL, maintained the submissions simply challenged the truthfulness of certain witnesses, telling the court: "It is not necessary to plead a case if the other side's witnesses are not telling the truth."

Mr Justice Nicklin determined that ANL must revise its trial opening note, ruling that the alleged camouflage scheme "goes far further than an attack on credibility" and fairness required the defendant to amend its defence.

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