Prince Harry’s Privacy Lawsuit Faces Disclosure Dispute

A legal battle between Prince Harry and a British tabloid publisher heated up on Thursday in a London court. The dispute centers on access to the prince’s communications, with the publisher accusing him of withholding evidence.

Hoàng tử Harry

Harry is one of many suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), owner of The Sun tabloid, over allegations of unlawful information gathering in the past. NGN denies any wrongdoing.

NGN lawyers requested access to a vast amount of Harry’s private communications, including emails, texts, and messages with royal staff and even his memoir ghostwriter. They believe this information might show when Harry became aware of potential legal claims, impacting the lawsuit timeline.

Hoàng tử Harry và David Sherborne

Harry’s legal team argues they’ve complied by searching his California home, providing information from accessible accounts, and contacting the royal household for relevant documents. They call NGN’s request a “fishing expedition” and deny intentionally deleting communications.

The judge presiding over the case, Justice Timothy Fancourt, cautioned NGN’s lawyer against accusing Harry of deliberate destruction without evidence. While NGN seeks justification for the broad disclosure request, the judge remains unconvinced.

A prior court decision allowed Harry to pursue claims of illegal information gathering by journalists, but dismissed a phone hacking claim due to delayed filing. This current dispute over disclosure is expected to be one of several hearings before the lawsuit goes to trial in early 2025.