Prince Harry is currently embroiled in a legal battle with News Group Newspapers (NGN) over his High Court phone hacking claim against the publisher of The Sun. The Duke of Sussex is accused of withholding crucial information, which could potentially complicate his case.
According to The Telegraph, NGN has demanded that Prince Harry release emails, text messages, and WhatsApp messages exchanged with key figures such as Sir Clive Alderton, the King’s private secretary, Sir Michael Stevens, the Keeper of the Privy Purse, and JR Moehringer, the ghostwriter of Harry’s memoir "Spare." The defendant believes the allegedly "destroyed material" could provide relevant evidence to bolster their defense.
Anthony Hudson KC, attorney for NGN, accused Prince Harry of “obfuscating,” suggesting that he was deliberately creating obstacles to prevent the defense from obtaining potential evidence. “It is, I’m afraid we say, another example of the obfuscation in relation to the claimant’s case. We say it’s shocking and extraordinary that the claimant has deliberately destroyed…,” Hudson stated before being interrupted by Mr. Justice Fancourt, who noted, “Well we don’t know what has happened. It’s not all clear.”
David Sherborne, representing Prince Harry, denied these allegations, asserting that his client had not “dragged his feet, had to be dragged kicking and screaming, [or] set up some kind of obstacle course.”
NGN is also seeking access to material stored on two encrypted hard drives, including cloud storage locations or backup tapes, which Prince Harry claims have been lost. However, two of the devices containing work documents from his staff’s shared drive have been found—one at his California home and the other at the office of his US lawyer.
This case is part of a broader legal battle involving Prince Harry and over 40 others who are suing the publisher for alleged unlawful information-gathering and invasion of privacy. The trial is scheduled for January, and the outcome could have significant implications for the Duke of Sussex and the involved parties.
As the legal proceedings continue, Prince Harry faces increased scrutiny and potential challenges, emphasizing the high stakes of this high-profile case.
