Eight articles casting doubt on Prince Harry’s Supreme Court case
Prince Harry was challenged to explain why the newspaper articles he complained about were the result of illegal activity.
He repeatedly replied that he was not ‘informed’ when told that information in the articles had previously been published by other newspapers and even the BBC. In several cases, the stories came from palace aides – and in one case he had given an official interview. Here are eight of the articles Harry complained about.
Diana so sad on Harry’s big day
Daily Mirror, Sept. 16, 1996
Harry’s complaint in his testimony: ‘This article contains details about my mother coming to visit me at Ludgrove school on my 12th birthday.’
Andrew Green KC, for Mirror Group Newspapers: ‘Are you aware that the Press Association published an article about two days before the article appeared saying that your mother was going to visit you on your birthday?’
Harry: “I didn’t know.”
“Harry’s Time at the Bar”
Daily Mirror, Sept. 19, 2000
Harry’s statement: ‘This article contains details of a lunch I had with friends at The Ifield pub in Chelsea to celebrate my 16th birthday.’
Duke of Sussex being cross-examined by Andrew Green KC, as he testifies at the Rolls Buildings in central London
Mr Green: ‘The pub had a celebrity chef. He had two TV shows. He was a great self-publicist and liked to talk about his famous clients.’
Harry: “I didn’t know.”
Mr. Green: “Don’t you think it’s possible he made the call that brought photographers to his gastropub?”
Harry: ‘He’s a chef and he’s quite busy making phone calls.’
‘No trifles from Eton for Harry, 18’
Daily Mirror, Sept. 16, 2002
Harry’s statement: “This article contained details of how I celebrated my 18th birthday, including an unremarkable lunch with my father and brother at home.”
Mr Green: ‘You gave an interview to Sam Greenhill [formerly] of the Press Association.’
Prince Harry was challenged to explain why the newspaper articles he complained about were the result of illegal activity
Harry: “Um, yes.”
Mr. Green: “The private information you are complaining about was revealed by you in an interview and subsequently appeared in several Sunday papers.”
Harry: “I see the similarities.”
‘”Adult” “Harry is a Godfather”
The People, April 20, 2003
Harry’s statement: “This article details my request to be godfather to Tiggy’s new baby, who was my nanny.”
Mr Green: ‘The information you are complaining about was in the public domain via The Sunday Telegraph a week before it appeared in The People, right?’
Harry: “Yes, I see the similarities.”
“Get… Harry breaks thumb like William”
Daily Mirror, Nov. 11, 2000
Statement from Harry: ‘This article said that I had broken off a bone in my thumb.’
Mr Green: ‘Did you know this was reported by several newspapers and the BBC the day before?’
He repeatedly replied that he had not been ‘in the know’ when told that information in the articles had previously been published by other newspapers and even the BBC.
Harry: “I didn’t know.”
Mr Green: ‘The Press Association published an article the day before the Spiegel. Have you made your concerns known to the Press Association?’
Harry; “No, I didn’t know.”
Mr Green: Whose phone was hacked? Whose phone would have had this information?’
Harry: “At the doctor?”
Mr Green: “Aren’t we, Prince Harry, in the realm of total speculation?”
‘Princes take to the hills for gala’
Daily Mirror, July 17, 2000
Harry’s statement: “This article states that my brother and I would not be attending the gala pageant in honor of the 100th birthday of our great-grandmother, the late Queen Mother.”
Mr Green: ‘An article in the Daily Mail two days before the Mirror article reported that you and your brother were reported missing. And Buckingham Palace has confirmed it.’
Andrew Green KC leaves the Rolls Buildings in central London after the Duke of Sussex testified in the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group Newspapers
Harry: “Yes, in answer to a question that people might be suspicious of.”
Mr Green: ‘Two days before the Mirror article.’
‘Harry used drugs’ and ‘Cool it Harry’
Sunday Mirror, January 13, 2002
Harry’s statement: “These articles reported allegations that I had taken drugs with friends at the Rattlebone Inn.”
Mr Green: ‘We see that in your book Spare that [Mark] Bolland, the [palace] spin doctor, has released information about you without your consent?’
Harry: “After this incident, I never shared anything private with him again.”
Mr Green: ‘The annoying reality is that private information was sometimes given to the Press with the permission of the Palace.’
Harry: “Certain individuals, yes.”
‘Harry’s cocaine ecstasy and GHB parties’
Daily Mirror, January 14, 2002
Harry’s statement: “This article reports that my friends, or those I associated with, used drugs.”
Harry: “No, I wasn’t.”
Mr. Green: “Don’t you think it was likely that he spoke to his police contacts?”
Harry: “I don’t know.”