Prince Harry warned Palace staff his family would become a ‘laughing stock’ over phonehacking controversy, new emails show
Prince Harry told Palace staff his family risked becoming a ‘laughing stock’ over phone hacking allegations in a series of animated emails.
The Duke of Sussex released the correspondence to support claims of a ‘secret agreement’ between the Royal Family and news executives that stopped him from taking legal action earlier.
They show how he sent exasperated messages to the late Queen’s communications director Sally Osman over talks with News Group Newspapers (NGN).
Ms Osman wrote to the Prince in February 2018 saying she was ‘afraid to report there has been no response from Robert Thompson, chief executive of News International’.
Harry wrote back: ‘I wouldn’t be afraid to report that to me Sally, the institution is supposed to be leading on this and is being made to look ineffective and weak.
Prince Harry told Palace staff his family risked becoming a ‘laughing stock’ over phone hacking allegations in a series of animated emails
Harry is suing NGN, publisher of The Sun and now-defunct News of the World, with actor Hugh Grant (pictured)
Prince Harry has dragged his brother (pictured together) into his war against the British press by claiming the future king has ‘quietly’ settled a phone hacking claim for a ‘very large sum’
‘I can’t begin to tell you what it will say about the institution if this isn’t resolved before the baby’s arrival and wedding. If it isn’t resolved, should the Queen be allowing them to Windsor on May 19th? They have no excuse for not getting this sorted.’
He added: ‘There needs to be an ultimatum otherwise this institution and everything it stands for becomes a laughing stock.’
Harry is suing NGN, publisher of The Sun and now-defunct News of the World, with actor Hugh Grant.
The Love Actually star has accused NGN of ‘using the law’ to ‘conceal’ unlawful activities by journalists and private investigators such as landline tapping, phone hacking and the use of private investigators to do these illegal things.’
Mr Justice Fancourt adjourned the case for another hearing to decide whether details of the ‘secret agreement’ can be included in the claimant’s argument. He will then rule on whether the case should be struck out or go to a full trial.
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