Prince Harry Accuses Mirror Group Newspapers of Unlawful Activities in Hacking Case

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, testified in his High Court hacking case today, accusing Mirror Group newspapers of using illegal methods to obtain information.

The Duke claims that journalists at titles such as the Daily Mirror and Sunday People engaged in phone hacking, deception, and employed private investigators for their unlawful activities.

During the second day of his evidence, Prince Harry was asked about journalist Omid Scobie, who co-authored the unofficial biography about him and his wife Meghan, titled “Finding Freedom.”

Mr. Scobie, who is also Bazaar.com's royal editor-at-large, has been posting photographs of a recent trip to California on his Instagram account.

It remains unknown if he has visited the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who currently reside in a luxurious £12 million mansion in Montecito.

Andrew Green KC, barrister for Mirror Group newspapers, referred to Mr. Scobie during his cross-examination of Prince Harry, quoting the journalist's previous statements about the importance of sources and royal reporting.

When asked if he knew Mr. Omid Scobie, Prince Harry confirmed that he did.

He further clarified, “I know him.”

This revelation adds another layer to the ongoing controversy surrounding the Duke's court appearance.

While the source of Mr. Scobie's comments was not disclosed by Mr. Green, an article in the Eye newspaper from August 2020 quoted the journalist discussing the significance of anonymous sources in royal and celebrity news.

In their book, “Finding Freedom,” Mr. Scobie and co-author Caroline Durand claimed to have interviewed over a hundred sources, including close friends of Prince Harry and Meghan, royal aides, and palace staff, past and present.

Recently, Mr. Scobie posted pictures from his trip to California, where he is believed to have been during the court proceedings.

It is worth noting that the journalist previously alleged that he was taught how to hack voicemails during his work experience at Mirror Group newspapers.

During his testimony, Mr. Scobie emphasized that he is not a friend, mouthpiece, cheerleader, or fan of the Sussexes.

He denied having a vested interest in helping Prince Harry and stated that his appearance in court has only provided ammunition to tabloids and made his life more challenging.

Contrary to his claims, however, Mr. Scobie's book described a close relationship with the couple, mentioning an occasion when Meghan hugged him and expressed her disappointment at the situation they found themselves in.

Additionally, the book revealed that Mr. Scobie had drinks with Prince Harry.

Furthermore, emails from Jason North, who played a significant role in Meghan's privacy court case, supported the notion that Mr. Scobie obtained information second-hand.

Interestingly, the Sussexes themselves wanted this information to be made public.

Prior to their complaint, Harry and Meghan were discreet in their information sharing process, communicating with Jason via email, who then passed on the details to Mr. Scobie.

In one email, Prince Harry even stated, “we have to be able to say we didn't have anything to do with it.”

As the High Court case continues, Prince Harry's testimony raises further questions about the relationship between the Duke and Mr. Scobie.

The ongoing legal battle between the Duke of Sussex and Mirror Group newspapers continues to captivate public attention, shedding light on the inner workings of the British media and its relationship with the royal family.