Prince Harry warned Palace staff family would become ‘laughing stock’ over phonehacking controversy
Prince Harry warned palace staff his family would become a ‘laughing stock’ over phone hacking controversy, new emails show
Prince Harry told Palace staff his family was at risk of becoming a “laughing stock” over phone hacking allegations in a series of animated emails.
The Duke of Sussex has released the correspondence in support of claims of a ‘secret agreement’ between the royal family and press executives that prevented him from taking legal action sooner.
They show him sending exasperated messages to Sally Osman, the late Queen’s director of communications, during conversations with News Group Newspapers (NGN).
Ms Osman wrote to the Prince in February 2018 that she was ‘afraid to report that there has been no response from Robert Thompson, CEO of News International’.
Harry wrote back: ‘I wouldn’t be afraid to report that, Sally, the institution is supposed to lead this and is made to appear ineffective and weak.
Prince Harry told palace staff his family was at risk of becoming a ‘laughing stock’ over phone hacking allegations in a series of animated emails
Harry is suing NGN, publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, with actor Hugh Grant (pictured)
Prince Harry has dragged his brother (pictured together) into his war against the British press by claiming the future king ‘quietly’ settled a phone hacking claim for a ‘very large sum’
“I can’t tell you what it will say about the institution if this isn’t resolved before the baby and marriage arrive. If not resolved, should the Queen allow them to go to Windsor on May 19? They have no excuse for not getting this right.”
He added, “There must be an ultimatum or this institution and everything it stands for will become a laughingstock.”
Harry is suing NGN, publisher of The Sun and the now-defunct News of the World, along with actor Hugh Grant.
The Love Actually star has accused NGN of “using the law” to “hide” illegal activities from journalists and private investigators, such as tapping landlines, hacking phones and using private investigators to do these illegal things. ‘
Mr Justice Fancourt adjourned the case for a new hearing to decide whether details of the ‘secret agreement’ could be included in the plaintiff’s argument. He will then decide whether the case should be dropped or go to a full trial.