Prince Harry tells hacking trial he ‘knows’ about Omid Scobie – who wrote his unofficial biography – as the duke is questioned about sources for royal stories
- The Duke of Sussex is suing Mirror Group Newspapers for damages in the High Court
- Harry was questioned in court today about Finding Freedom writer Omid Scobie
Prince Harry told his Supreme Court hacking case today that he “knows” journalist Omid Scobie, who wrote his unofficial biography and posted photos from a trip to California, where the duke and his family live.
The Duke of Sussex is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for damages, alleging that journalists on their titles – including the Daily and Sunday Mirror and Sunday People – have been linked to methods such as phone hacking, so-called ‘blagging’ or obtaining information through deception and using private investigators for unlawful activities.
On the second day of Harry’s testimony – making him the first senior royal to testify in court in over a century – he was asked about Mr Scobie.
Mr Scobie co-authored the 2020 book Finding Freedom about Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, and is believed to be close to the Sussexes. However, it is unknown if he visited the couple, who live in a £12 million mansion in Montecito.
At the Supreme Court today, Mr. Scobie – who is the royal editor-in-chief of Bazaar.com – was named by MGN’s attorney Andrew Green KC in his cross-examination of Harry.
The Duke of Sussex arrives today at the High Court in London to testify further
Omid Scobie posted this photo to his Instagram account of him in California two days ago
Mr Green quoted how Mr Scobie has previously spoken about the importance of sources in royal reporting.
The lawyer then asked Harry, “Do you know Mr. Omid Scobie?”
And the Duke replied, “Yes.”
Harry then added, “I know about him.”
Although Mr. Green did not identify the source of Mr. Scobie’s comments, an article in the i newspaper in August 2020, he quoted him as saying, “Royal and celebrity news thrives on the anonymity of sources.”
Mr. Scobie and Finding Freedom co-author Carolyn Durand spoke to more than 100 sources, including “close friends of Harry and Meghan, royal aides and palace staff (past and present)” for their book, according to a note in it.
Mr Scobie is said to have been in California and posted photos from a trip there two days ago to his Instagram account ‘scobiesnaps’, with the caption: ‘Cali pick n mix’.
Including a photo of the world-famous restaurant Nobu and an image of a dessert on a table in the Polo Lounge, in the Beverly Hills Hotel.
Mr. Scobie was not mentioned in Harry’s testimony and it is not known if he is still in California.
The journalist previously claimed on May 15 that he was taught how to hack voicemails during his work experience at MGN, titled The Sunday People.
Mr Scobie also previously said that during his work experience at its sister newspaper the Daily Mirror, he learned that then-editor Piers Morgan was told that the information for a story about pop star Kylie Minogue had come through voicemail.
A court artist to Prince Harry (right) is being cross-examined by Andrew Green KC (left) today.
Mr Scobie is seen before the Supreme Court on May 15, where he testified in the MGN case
Mr Scobie also insisted he is not the Sussexes’ ‘friend, mouthpiece, cheerleader’, as he testified for Harry at the High Court.
Mr Morgan, editor of the tabloid between 1995 and 2004, has denied any involvement in phone hacking.
A profile in the Sunday Times claimed last month that Mr. Scobie first met Meghan in 2015 at Toronto Fashion Week, before she started dating Harry.
It also said he gave Meghan “a big goodbye hug” under the “malachite candlesticks” of the 1844 Room at Buckingham Palace after her latest engagement as a working royal.