Britain's Prince Harry has accused his family of withholding information about phone hacking from him to avoid sitting in the witness box and opening "a can of worms", a witness statement released Tuesday said.

The Duke of Sussex made the claim in submissions for a privacy claim he and other celebrities have filed against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers (ANL).

Lawyers for the group, which also includes pop superstar Elton John, claim ANL commissioned the breaking and entry into private property, illegally intercepted voicemail messages and obtained medical records.

The alleged wrongdoing dates from 1993-2011, but some went on as late as 2018, according to their lawyer David Sherborne.

In his partially redacted statement, Harry stated he "became aware that I had a claim that I could bring" only in 2018, in part due to the royal family -- which he refers to as "the Institution".&nbsp;

"The Institution was without a doubt withholding information from me for a long time about... phone hacking," he added.&nbsp;

"That has only become clear in recent years as I have pursued my own claim with different legal advice and representation."

The prince went on to state: "The Institution made it clear that we did not need to know anything about phone hacking and it was made clear to me that the Royal Family did not sit in the witness box because that could open up a can of worms."

The prince, who lives in California, made a surprise appearance at London's High Court on the first two of four days of hearings this week, on Monday alongside John and other figures involved.

- 'The bubble burst' - 
 
ANL has described the allegations as "preposterous smears" and an attempt "to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal".

It is trying to end the legal claims by arguing they are "stale" and "based on no credible evidence", so should not go to trial.

A spokesperson for ANL said that Harry "has become a serial litigant against Mail newspapers with whom he seems obsessed".

Britain's phone-hacking scandal, which first blew up in 2006, saw journalists at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World hack into the voicemails of royals, celebrities and murder victims.

It triggered the closure of the mass-selling Sunday tabloid, a mammoth police investigation, a judge-led inquiry and criminal charges that gripped Britain for years.&nbsp;

Harry, the younger son of Britain's King Charles III, has long had a difficult relationship with the media.

In his statement, he said leaving the UK had proved pivotal in bringing the lawsuit.

"It is not an exaggeration to say that the bubble burst in terms of what I knew in 2020 when I moved out of the United Kingdom," the prince stated.

He concluded by arguing he was bringing the claim "because I love my country and I remain deeply concerned by the unchecked power, influence and criminality" of the publisher.

"The British public deserve to know the full extent of this cover up and I feel it is my duty to expose it," he added.

Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Britain's Prince Harry has accused his family of withholding information about phone hacking from him to avoid sitting in the witness box and opening "a can of worms", a witness statement released Tuesday said.

Britain's Prince Harry has accused his family of withholding information about phone hacking from him to avoid sitting in the witness box and opening "a can of worms", a witness statement released Tuesday said. The Duke of Sussex made the claim in submissions for a privacy claim he and other celebrities have filed against the publisher of the Daily Mail, Associated Newspapers (ANL). Lawyers for the group, which also includes pop superstar Elton John, claim ANL commissioned the breaking and entry into private property, illegally intercepted voicemail messages and obtained medical records. The alleged wrongdoing dates from 1993-2011, but some went on as late as 2018, according to their lawyer David Sherborne. In his partially redacted statement, Harry stated he "became aware that I had a claim that I could bring" only in 2018, in part due to the royal family -- which he refers to as "the Institution". "The Institution was without a doubt withholding information from me for a long time about... phone hacking," he added. "That has only become clear in recent years as I have pursued my own claim with different legal advice and representation." The prince went on to state: "The Institution made it clear that we did not need to know anything about phone hacking and it was made clear to me that the Royal Family did not sit in the witness box because that could open up a can of worms." The prince, who lives in California, made a surprise appearance at London's High Court on the first two of four days of hearings this week, on Monday alongside John and other figures involved. - 'The bubble burst' - ANL has described the allegations as "preposterous smears" and an attempt "to drag the Mail titles into the phone-hacking scandal". It is trying to end the legal claims by arguing they are "stale" and "based on no credible evidence", so should not go to trial. A spokesperson for ANL said that Harry "has become a serial litigant against Mail newspapers with whom he seems obsessed". Britain's phone-hacking scandal, which first blew up in 2006, saw journalists at the Rupert Murdoch-owned News of the World hack into the voicemails of royals, celebrities and murder victims. It triggered the closure of the mass-selling Sunday tabloid, a mammoth police investigation, a judge-led inquiry and criminal charges that gripped Britain for years. Harry, the younger son of Britain's King Charles III, has long had a difficult relationship with the media. In his statement, he said leaving the UK had proved pivotal in bringing the lawsuit. "It is not an exaggeration to say that the bubble burst in terms of what I knew in 2020 when I moved out of the United Kingdom," the prince stated. He concluded by arguing he was bringing the claim "because I love my country and I remain deeply concerned by the unchecked power, influence and criminality" of the publisher. "The British public deserve to know the full extent of this cover up and I feel it is my duty to expose it," he added. Buckingham Palace declined to comment.

Daily Mail case: Prince Harry accuses UK royals of hiding phone hacking from him

Britain's Prince Harry has launched new legal action against one of the country's biggest newspaper groups, a spokesperson said Wednesday.

The complaint against Associated Newspapers -- which publishes the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline -- follows his wife Meghan Markle's recent victory in a separate, long-running case against the same group.

A spokesperson for the pair told AFP that a complaint had been filed by Harry, without specifying its nature or the publication being sued.

Multiple UK media reports said Harry -- Queen Elizabeth II's grandson -- was suing for libel over a Mail on Sunday article alleging he had sought to keep a request for British police protection under wraps.

Markle, 40, and Harry, 37, live in California after stepping down from royal duties in 2019, which caused them to lose their UK taxpayer-paid protection.

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Last month, Harry appealed to the UK courts after the government refused to allow him to pay for police protection out of his own pocket, arguing the decision means he cannot return home.

A lawyer for Harry told a London court last week that the UK "will always be his home," but that his own private security team in the US does not have adequate jurisdiction or access to UK intelligence necessary to keep his family safe.

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The government lawyer dismissed Harry's offer to pay for police protection as "irrelevant," writing to the court that personal "security by the police is not available on a privately financed basis."

The couple have recently taken legal action against a number of publications, alleging invasion of privacy.

Following her second court victory against Associated Newspapers in December for breach of privacy -- over the publication of a letter she wrote to her estranged father -- Markle called for a reform of tabloid culture.

The industry, she said, "conditions people to be cruel and profits from the lies and pain that they create."

Britain's Prince Harry has launched new legal action against one of the country's biggest newspaper groups, a spokesperson said Wednesday. The complaint against Associated Newspapers -- which publishes the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline -- follows his wife Meghan Markle's recent victory in a separate, long-running case against the same group.

Britain's Prince Harry has launched new legal action against one of the country's biggest newspaper groups, a spokesperson said Wednesday. The complaint against Associated Newspapers -- which publishes the Daily Mail, Mail on Sunday and MailOnline -- follows his wife Meghan Markle's recent victory in a separate, long-running case against the same group. A spokesperson for the pair told AFP that a complaint had been filed by Harry, without specifying its nature or the publication being sued. Multiple UK media reports said Harry -- Queen Elizabeth II's grandson -- was suing for libel over a Mail on Sunday article alleging he had sought to keep a request for British police protection under wraps. Markle, 40, and Harry, 37, live in California after stepping down from royal duties in 2019, which caused them to lose their UK taxpayer-paid protection. Cardi B weighs in on Russia-Ukraine crisis: Not on NATO or Russian side Last month, Harry appealed to the UK courts after the government refused to allow him to pay for police protection out of his own pocket, arguing the decision means he cannot return home. A lawyer for Harry told a London court last week that the UK "will always be his home," but that his own private security team in the US does not have adequate jurisdiction or access to UK intelligence necessary to keep his family safe. The Simpsons had predicted the Russia-Ukraine crisis way back in 1998.Here's proof The government lawyer dismissed Harry's offer to pay for police protection as "irrelevant," writing to the court that personal "security by the police is not available on a privately financed basis." The couple have recently taken legal action against a number of publications, alleging invasion of privacy. Following her second court victory against Associated Newspapers in December for breach of privacy -- over the publication of a letter she wrote to her estranged father -- Markle called for a reform of tabloid culture. The industry, she said, "conditions people to be cruel and profits from the lies and pain that they create."

Prince Harry sues major British newspaper group

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Daily Mail case: Prince Harry accuses UK royals of hiding phone hacking from him

Prince Harry sues major British newspaper group