The alleged incidents include surveillance around William’s 21st birthday party and attempts to access phone data linked to Kate.

However, in a ruling delivered on October 10, Mr Justice Nicklin of the High Court rejected the new claims, siding with ANL’s motion to have them struck out before trial.

“Even if proved true, they cannot assist in the fair resolution of the claimants’ claims,” the judge reportedly stated, describing the new line of argument as “unorthodox.” He added, “Put bluntly, it has become a complex and involved side-show.”

Justice Nicklin also ruled that the allegations involving Princess Catherine had been introduced too late in the legal process.

The claimants’ legal team is expected to appeal the decision, with another preliminary hearing scheduled for next month. The full trial, which could last up to nine weeks, is currently set to begin in January 2026.

This development follows Harry’s earlier settlement in 2023 with Mirror Group Newspapers, bringing to an end his separate years-long phone hacking case.