Prince Harry gave an emotional and prickly testimony at the Royal Courts of Justice on Wednesday, as he faced cross-examination in his legal battle against Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The Duke of Sussex, who has pursued three major newspaper publishers over alleged illegal information gathering, appeared eager to have his say, standing silently for several minutes before the judge entered.
During the hearing, Harry swatted back testily at questions from Antony White KC, denying claims that he was a friend of journalist Katie Nicholl or that he used a Facebook profile named “Mr Mischief” to contact a Mail on Sunday reporter. He also rejected suggestions that he had met a Mail Group journalist at a house party in Ibiza in 2011, stating, “I don’t believe I have ever been to Ibiza other than with my now wife.”
The prince described in his witness statement an “endless pursuit, a campaign, an obsession” by the press that drove him “paranoid beyond belief, isolating me and probably wanting to drive me to drugs and drinking to sell more of their papers.” He added that his “social circles were not leaky,” despite the newspapers’ defence that their reporters obtained stories through befriending his outer circle and other legitimate means.
Judge Mr Justice Nicklin intervened multiple times, reminding Harry that the barrister was only doing his job and that his role was simply to answer questions. Harry referenced a “bad experience with Mr Green” from a previous case, to which White replied, “I am intent on you not having a bad experience with me, but it is my job to ask you these questions.”
The case, brought alongside other plaintiffs including Sir Elton John and Doreen Lawrence, centres on alleged illegal methods used by Associated Newspapers between 2001 and 2013. The publisher vehemently denies the claims, and neither party has shown appetite for compromise. Harry previously received a £10m settlement from News Group Newspapers and substantial damages from Mirror Group Newspapers in related cases.
