Prince Harry took to the witness stand at the High Court on Tuesday, becoming the first senior royal to testify in a civil trial in 132 years. Harry is suing Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for phone hacking, alleging that the company accessed his voicemails and published private information about him and his family.
Harry’s testimony began with an apology from MGN’s lawyer, Adam Wolanski QC, who said that the company “deeply regrets” the distress that Harry and his family have suffered. Wolanski also said that MGN will not be contesting the fact that Harry’s voicemails were hacked, but will argue that the information that was published was not private.
Harry began his testimony by describing how he first became aware of the possibility that his voicemails had been hacked. He said that he was contacted by a journalist in 2009 who told him that they had transcripts of his voicemails. Harry said that he was “shocked and appalled” by the news, and that he immediately contacted his lawyers.
Harry then went on to describe the impact that the hacking has had on his life. He said that he has been “constantly worried” about his privacy, and that he has had to take steps to protect his family from further intrusion. Harry also said that the hacking has had a negative impact on his mental health.
Harry’s testimony is expected to last for several days. He is likely to be questioned about his relationship with the media, his security arrangements, and his decision to step back from his royal duties. The trial is expected to last for several weeks.
Here are some of the key points from Harry’s testimony:
- MGN has apologized for hacking Harry’s voicemails.
- MGN will not be contesting the fact that Harry’s voicemails were hacked, but will argue that the information that was published was not private.
- Harry was “shocked and appalled” to learn that his voicemails had been hacked.
- The hacking has had a negative impact on Harry’s privacy, mental health, and relationship with the media.
Harry’s testimony is a significant development in his legal battle against MGN. It is the first time that Harry has spoken publicly about the hacking, and his testimony is likely to be closely scrutinized by the media and the public. The trial is expected to last for several weeks, and it remains to be seen whether Harry will be successful in his case.
