Prince Harry Breaks Down During Phone Hacking Trial

Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, was visibly emotional as he testified in the phone hacking trial against Mirror Group papers.

He claimed that around 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 by the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, and Sunday People were based on information obtained through illegal methods.

However, when questioned about evidence to support his claims, he admitted to not remembering specific details, stating, “That's why we're here.”

His voice broke as he struggled to recall the articles during his testimony at the High Court.

During the proceedings, Harry faced intense questioning from Andrew Green KC, the lawyer representing the Mirror.

He repeatedly stated, “I don't know” and “I don't remember” over thirty times in just three hours.

The Duke also expressed frustration, redirecting questions to his legal team.

Despite the challenging nature of the interrogation, Prince Harry maintained his composure, although his voice occasionally betrayed his emotions.

Over the course of two exhausting days, Prince Harry was interrogated about various articles, including one titled “Prince of Lapland: Intimate Details of a Visit to Strip Club Spearmint Rhino in 2006.”

The piece described a dance with a blonde woman sitting on his lap, which reportedly upset his then-girlfriend, Chelsea Davy.

Harry was questioned about allegations that the Mirror group had intercepted voice messages to gain insight into his relationship with Chelsea.

In his statement, the Duke expressed concern that his private trip to Mozambique with Davy would be exposed by the media, denying any speculation of phone hacking involvement.

Furthermore, Prince Harry disputed a 2007 article in People magazine that detailed arguments between him and Miss Davy before she moved to Leeds.

He strongly denied discussing his relationship with the palace, emphasizing that attributing such information to a palace source was highly dubious.

However, Mr. Green countered by suggesting that the case was based on speculation rather than concrete evidence.

Prince Harry responded with humor, saying, “I'll believe you,” as he attempted to deflect the line of questioning.

When Prince Harry questioned whether everything about him during his military service was fair game for the press, Mr. Green reminded him that the purpose of the trial was for Harry to answer questions, not the other way around.

The lawyer referred to a 2007 incident where Harry dropped off Chelsea Davy outside Kensington Palace gates, insinuating that phone hacking may have allowed photographers to know where to position themselves.

Prince Harry admitted that this possibility was “incredibly dubious,” as he had tried to drop her off discreetly without being noticed by the public.

Another article discussed during the trial was titled “Harry to Lead Recruits Walk.”

However, it was revealed in court that the information had been shared by the Press Association after St. James's Palace made it public.

Although Prince Harry claimed to be unaware of the specific story, he maintained that the article was dubious due to the underlying criminal behavior.

Reflecting on the coverage of his relationship with Chelsea in 2007, Prince Harry disclosed feeling trapped and immature.

He acknowledged making foolish decisions, referencing a report about flirting with a brunette at a party in 2005.

Additionally, he admitted to calling his mother's former butler, Paul Burrell, a “crafty ass.”

Prince Harry's appearance in the phone hacking trial was emotionally charged, as he grappled with recalling details and faced intense scrutiny from the Mirror's legal team.

The trial continues, shedding light on the practices of tabloid journalism and their impact on the lives of public figures.