The start of a long-awaited trial initiated by Britain's Prince Harry against a tabloid publisher for allegedly unlawful information gathering stalled Tuesday as lawyers held last-minute "discussions".

The High Court judge hearing the long-running case twice agreed to pause Tuesday's proceedings, eventually for the entire morning, at the request of Harry's lawyers, who said they were engaged in unspecified talks.

The delay prompted unsubstantiated reports from journalists covering the case that the two sides were discussing a new settlement offer to avoid a trial.

AFP has asked the prince's lawyers for comment, but could not immediately verify the reports.

The case, the culmination of years of legal wrangling, pits King Charles III's youngest son against Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers (NGN).

NGN lawyers agreed to the request to delay the start of the trial on Tuesday.

Harry claims that private investigators working for two tabloids owned by NGN -- The Sun and now-shuttered News of the World -- repeatedly targeted him unlawfully more than a decade ago.

It is one of several lawsuits the 40-year-old has brought against UK newspaper publishers, with whom he has........

© International Business Times