In a high-profile legal case, royal correspondent Katie Nicholl has firmly denied allegations of phone hacking, describing them as "nonsense" and asserting that her stories on Prince Harry were sourced through a network of contacts within his inner circle. Nicholl, who worked as both diary and royal editor at the Mail on Sunday, is accused of writing seven articles about the Duke of Sussex using unlawfully gathered information, but she maintains her reporting relied on legitimate sources.
Claims of Unlawful Information Gathering
Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL), the publisher of the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, strongly denies the claims made by Prince Harry and other high-profile figures, including Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John, and Liz Hurley. The allegations centre on whether Nicholl engaged in phone hacking or other illegal methods to obtain private details about Prince Harry's life.
In her witness statement, Nicholl refuted these accusations, stating they could be damaging to her career. She emphasised, "The suggestion that a reference to a telephone call or message indicates I have tapped that person's landline or hacked their voicemail is nonsense." Instead, she outlined how she built a reliable network of informants.
Sources Within Harry's Social Circle
Nicholl claimed to have "excellent connections with aristocrats and socialites" who provided tips on Prince Harry's activities. These sources, she said, had "intimate knowledge of his social life" through direct interactions and access to his social media. They would inform her about his whereabouts, relationships, and communications.
Key figures in her network included the late socialite Tara Palmer Tomkinson, described as a "close friend," and Elizabeth Anson, a party planner to celebrities and a cousin to Queen Elizabeth II. Nicholl also mentioned being "friendly" with Natalie Pinkham, who briefly dated Prince Harry and sometimes spoke off the record.
Insider Access to Private Conversations
One confidential source, a friend of Prince Harry and part of his inner circle, reportedly had direct access to his private moments. Nicholl stated, "This friend was often there when Prince Harry was on his phone and therefore sometimes knew who Prince Harry was speaking to and was in a position to overhear his conversations." She added that on at least one occasion, Prince Harry showed this person some of his text messages.
Specific Articles Under Scrutiny
The articles accused of being sourced through unlawful means cover topics such as Prince Harry's former relationship with Chelsy Davy and an argument between Prince William and Harry over a Princess Diana memorial concert. Nicholl denied commissioning private investigator Gavin Burrows for information on Davy, instead citing a source who was a close friend of Davy and provided "reliable and accurate information."
Prince Harry's Response
During cross-examination at the High Court, Prince Harry contested the idea that his social circles were leaky, stating, "My social circles were not leaky, I want to make that absolutely clear." He added that if he became suspicious of someone, he would cut contact with them, highlighting the personal stakes involved in the case.
Ongoing Legal Proceedings
The trial before Mr Justice Nicklin is set to conclude in March, with a written judgment to follow at a later date. This case has drawn significant attention due to its implications for press ethics and privacy rights, pitting royal figures against media outlets in a battle over journalistic practices.
As the proceedings unfold, the focus remains on whether Nicholl's sources were legitimate or if unlawful methods were employed, with potential consequences for her career and the broader landscape of royal reporting.
