High Court Judge Raises Concerns Over Contradictory Statements in Prince Harry’s Privacy Claim Against Daily Mail

In a surprising turn of events, the High Court judge presiding over Prince Harry's privacy claim against the publishers of the Daily Mail has expressed concerns about a key witness who failed to disclose contradictory statements made to both sides.

During the proceedings at the High Court, Mr. Justice Nicklin questioned Associated Newspapers Ltd about private investigator Gavin Burrows' conflicting evidence provided in two statements.

During the final day of the preliminary hearing, Adrian Beltrami KC, representing the defendants, revealed that the newspaper was unaware of a 2021 admission made by Mr. Burrows to the Duke's legal team, despite later denying the allegations.

In one written document submitted to the court, Mr. Burrows vehemently denied being commissioned or instructed by the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday to unlawfully gather information.

However, an earlier statement from 2021 appears to contain detailed admissions of Mr. Burrows being commissioned by the Mail on Sunday to engage in activities such as phone hacking and car bugging.

Mr. Beltrami informed the court that Mr. Burrows' second witness statement was a response to the claims made by the claimants and not a reflection of his original 2021 statement.

This led Mr. Justice Nicklin to remark on the peculiarity that Mr. Burrows did not mention his previous statement to the defendants when asked to provide a statement.

Adding to the intrigue, it has been alleged that the private investigator, Gavin Burrows, upon whom Prince Harry relies for his claim against the Mail on Sunday, denies ever signing such a statement.

According to Mr. Burrows, the statement was copied and pasted from his evidence against News of the World and fraudulently signed by another individual.

This raises questions about Prince Harry's awareness of the situation and whether Elton John knowingly relied on false and fabricated evidence.

Interestingly, Elton John, a close friend of Prince Harry, reportedly felt blindsided by the couple's announcement that they were stepping back from their roles within the royal family.

A source revealed that despite being a constant support for Harry during the time of the announcement in January 2020, Elton was taken aback by the decision.

The singer had known about the couple's plans to leave the family long before Queen Elizabeth was informed.

However, Elton John remains a trusted confidant for the couple, offering them a listening ear and support as they discuss their future plans.

According to sources, Elton John maintains regular contact with Harry and Meghan, acting as an inspiration and almost a motherly figure.

While he respects their autonomy and would never dictate their choices, he continues to provide unwavering support and protection.

The Mail Online was informed that Elton was genuinely surprised by the news, only learning about the details and timing of Harry and Meghan's plans when the announcements were posted on their Instagram account.

It is worth noting that Elton John played a significant role in the Sussexes' wedding in 2018 and shared a close friendship with Harry's late mother, Princess Diana.