Prince Harry's Inner Circle Not Entirely 'Tight Lipped', Journalist Testifies in High Court
In a dramatic courtroom revelation, former Mail on Sunday diary editor Katie Nicholl has asserted that Prince Harry's close friends were not all "tight lipped" about his private life. The journalist made this statement while giving evidence at London's High Court, where she is defending herself against allegations of unlawful information gathering.
Journalist Claims Genuine Contacts Within Royal Circle
Katie Nicholl repeatedly denied obtaining information through illegal means during her testimony. She emphasized that she maintained "real contacts genuinely close to Prince Harry who were willing to speak to me." The journalist described having "very good sources in the inner circle" of the Duke of Sussex, contradicting suggestions that Harry's friends universally maintained strict confidentiality.
Nicholl recounted a specific encounter from approximately April 2003, when she met Prince Harry at a party at Kensington Roof Gardens in London. She told the court she saw the young prince near the entrance to a private room smoking a cigarette, and he invited her inside. "It's not all the time you get invited into a party by one of the most famous princes in the world," Nicholl remarked, adding that she had a clear memory of this interaction.
Legal Battle Over Alleged Unlawful Information Gathering
The testimony comes as part of a major legal action brought by Prince Harry and several other high-profile figures against Associated Newspapers Limited, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday. The claimants allege unlawful information gathering practices, including phone hacking, which the publisher strongly denies.
During cross-examination, the claimants' barrister, Mr. Sherborne, suggested Nicholl had been "overstating her relationship with Harry" and "exaggerating" her contacts within his circle. He asserted that Prince Harry's close friends were "well aware" of media interest and were typically "very tight lipped" about his private affairs.
Nicholl responded firmly: "They were not all tight lipped. They certainly weren't. I had very good sources in the inner circle."
Specific Articles Under Scrutiny
Katie Nicholl is named as an author of seven articles in Prince Harry's claim against Associated Newspapers Limited. In her written evidence, she stated she possessed "an excellent, reliable network of contacts" and obtained many stories about Harry directly from his friends.
One particular article under examination concerned Prince Harry being chosen as godfather to the child of his former nanny, Tiggy Legge-Bourke. Nicholl testified that while she wasn't "100% sure" who she had spoken to for this story, she frequently communicated with Lady Elizabeth Anson, a close friend of Legge-Bourke and a confidante of the late Queen.
When questioned about this article, Nicholl explained: "It's very difficult to remember what conversations I had in 2001," noting there "was a close family connection" involved in the story.
Broader Context of the Trial
The landmark trial involves multiple household names beyond Prince Harry, including Baroness Doreen Lawrence, Sir Elton John, Sadie Frost, Liz Hurley, David Furnish, and Sir Simon Hughes. All are pursuing legal action against Associated Newspapers Limited over similar allegations of unlawful information gathering.
The proceedings began in January and are scheduled to conclude at the end of March. Justice Mr. Justice Nicklin is expected to deliver a written judgment at a later date following the trial's completion.
Throughout her testimony, Nicholl maintained that her reporting relied on legitimate journalistic methods rather than unlawful practices. She cited another example involving a story about Prince Harry's relationship with Chelsy Davy, claiming the information "came from one of Chelsy's very good friends in South Africa" rather than through any improper means.
The case represents one of the most significant media law trials in recent years, examining the boundaries between legitimate journalism and unlawful intrusion into private lives of public figures.
