STORY: (Why are Prince Harry, Elton John suing the Daily Mail's owner?)

Why are Britain's Prince Harry and Elton John suing the publisher of the Daily Mail?

The pair along with five other high-profile figures are taking action against Associated Newspapers – one of Britain's biggest publishers – alleging phone-tapping and other privacy breaches.

Here are the key details of the case being heard at London's High Court.

(What is the case about?)

The claimants allege Associated Newspapers, whose titles also include the Mail on Sunday,

is responsible for unlawful information gathering over a period of 25 years, between 1993 and 2018.

The plaintiffs' lawyers say the publisher even commissioned "the breaking and entry into private property".

One of the most notable claimants is Doreen Lawrence, the mother of Black teenager Stephen Lawrence who was murdered in a 1993 racist attack.

The Mail championed bringing her son's killers to justice and previously said the allegations involving her were, quote, "appalling and utterly groundless smears".

Elton John and his husband David Furnish allege they were targeted on behalf of the publisher by a private investigator.

Associated Newspapers said in a statement that it denies the allegations.

(What is this hearing about?)

Associated Newspapers is seeking to have the cases thrown out on the basis that they were brought too late.

It says the seven claimants must have known about allegations of unlawful information gathering made several years ago.

The claimants' lawyers say alleged unlawful information gathering was deliberately hidden by Associated Newspapers for years and they did not discover that they could bring a lawsuit until recently.