Prince Harry had a good thing going, but the Duke of Sussex was dealt a massive blow at the last minute that could potentially turn the whole trial around.
King Charles’ younger son is suing the Daily Mail publisher for alleged phone hacking and other illegal means of gathering information for their articles. Harry is joined by six other suitors including Sir Elton Jon, David Furnish, Elizabeth Hurley, Sadie Frost Baroness Doreen Lawrence and Sir Simon Hughes.
But in the latest twist, when Harry’s flirtatious text exchanges with journalist Charlotte Griffiths were revealed in court, which could affect the verdict in the case, journalist Peter Ford said on 3AW Breakfast with Ross and Russel.
The reporter explained that there were many newspapers at the time that acquired information through private investigators and illegal means, but the Daily Mail had always refused to use such methods.
“No matter what people do, we’ve never done it.” He continued: “The fine print is we don’t know what private investigators will sometimes do that we hire or freelance journalists will use information we buy. But for our own staff, we can investigate and identify.”
Prince Harry took on the Daily Mail publisher and had so far been successful in taking them on, but the publisher said they “wouldn’t blink”.
Peter pointed out that the “last minute twist” may not kill the case, but will certainly damage his reputation. It would raise questions about his relationship if it went beyond texting.
Furthermore, he also said that this is also very much at odds with what Harry has claimed about his family “cooperating with the press” and the text exchange suggests that the Duke did the same.
Charlotte Griffith’s response to Prince Harry’s tape
While the texts have been shared publicly now, the discussion was already covered in court by both Charotte and Prince Harry.
Charlotte said in evidence that she and Harry had “known each other socially for a period” and her friends who introduced her to the royals were aware that she was a journalist working under royal correspondent Katie Nicholl.
She claimed Harry sent her his number via Facebook at a party he was hosting with their mutual friend.
Meanwhile, Harry stressed that he is “not friends with any of these journalists”, in another instance he shared that he “only met once” with Charlotte.
