Prince Harry becomes first prince in 130 years to appear in court, to face cross-examination
1 min read 06 Jun 2023, 03:02 PM ISTPrince Harry has appeared in court to give evidence in his legal battle against Mirror Group Newspapers.
PremiumPrince Harry has made a historic appearance at the High Court in London to give evidence in his legal battle against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People.
The 38-year-old prince is seeking damages, alleging that journalists at these publications engaged in illegal practices, including phone hacking, deception to gather information, and the use of private investigators for unlawful activities.
Originally scheduled for June 5, Prince Harry's testimony has been rescheduled to June 6, marking the first time in 130 years that a prince has appeared as a witness in court, reported The Independent. During the proceedings, David Sherborne, representing Prince Harry, highlighted how the articles published by MGN had strained his client's relationship with his brother, the Prince of Wales, due to the lack of trust they engendered.
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The Duke of Sussex is determined to prove that the Mirror publications were complicit in unethical activities, spanning from 1996 to 2010, including phone hacking, deceptive practices, and the involvement of private investigators.
MGN, the defendant in the case, denies or has not admitted to the allegations brought against them and contends that some claimants have initiated legal action beyond the permissible timeframe. Today, the Duke of Sussex is expected to face cross-examination from the publisher's legal team, a crucial moment in this high-profile trial.
During the opening arguments presented by Prince Harry's lawyer, David Sherborne, it was claimed that Mirror journalists had accessed voicemail messages of the late Princess Diana during Piers Morgan's tenure as editor.
Sherborne further emphasised that this intrusion had created a sense of mistrust between Prince Harry and Prince William, as per Sky News. He also highlighted the invasive nature of the reporting on Prince Harry's relationship with his ex-girlfriend, Chelsy Davy, which he argued was driven by unlawful activities.
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According to Sherborne, there was no respite from such intrusions throughout Prince Harry's life, with no boundaries or safeguards protecting him from this illicit information gathering. As the legal battle unfolds, the court will closely scrutinise the evidence and arguments put forth by both parties, seeking to shed light on the extent of any unlawful practices and their impact on the lives of those involved.
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