Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon OBE and others -v- Associated Newspapers Limited

High CourtKing's Bench DivisionMedia and Communications ListOrder

Claim No. KB-2022-003316
Claim No. KB-2022-003317
Claim No. KB-2022-003318
Claim No. KB-2022-003340
Claim No. KB-2022-003357
Claim No. KB-2022-003404

In the High Court of Justice
King’s Bench Division
Media and Communications List

12 November 2025

Before:

The Honourable Mr Justice Nicklin

Between:

(1) BARONESS LAWRENCE OF CLARENDON OBE
(Claim No. KB-2022-003316)
(2) ELIZABETH HURLEY
(Claim No. KB-2022-003317)
(3) SIR ELTON JOHN CH CBE
(4) DAVID FURNISH
(Claim No. KB-2022-003318)
(5) SIR SIMON HUGHES
(Claim No. KB-2022-003340)
(6) PRINCE HARRY, THE DUKE OF SUSSEX
(Claim No. KB-2022-003357)
(7) SADIE FROST LAW
(Claim No. KB-2022-003404)

-v-

Associated Newspapers Limited

Order

UPON APPLICATION by the Claimants by Application Notice dated 3 November 2025 seeking orders including (1) an order protecting the identity of a witness for the Claimants, “Berlin” (“the Anonymity Application”); and (2) an order withholding paragraphs 110, 111 and 147 of the Defendant’s skeleton argument for the CMC on 10 and 11 November 2025 (“the Skeleton Argument Application”)

AND UPON HEARING Counsel for the Claimants and Leading Counsel for the Defendant at the CMC on 10-11 November 2025

IT IS ORDERED that:

  1. The Skeleton Argument Application is refused.
  2. The Anonymity Application is adjourned to the Pre-Trial Review on 26-27 November 2025.
  3. Until the determination by the Court of the Anonymity Application at the Pre-Trial Review, or further order in the meantime:
    a. the name of the Claimants’ witness (“Berlin”) shall be not disclosed in these proceedings and there shall be substituted for all purposes in these proceedings in place of references to the witness by their name, and whether orally or in writing, references to the name “Berlin”; and
    b. pursuant to s.11, Contempt of Court Act 1981, no person shall publish in connection with these proceedings the name of “Berlin”, or any information likely to lead to the identification in connection with the proceedings of the person identified as “Berlin”.
  4. Pursuant to CPR 39.2(5) a copy of this Order shall be published on the website of the Judiciary of England and Wales.
  5. Any person may apply to vary or discharge the Order made in Paragraph 3 above, but any Application seeking to do so must be made by Application Notice that must be served upon the Claimants and the Defendants
  6. Costs in the case.