Prince Harry tells court he didn't consider hacking legal action until he bumped into 'lovely' celebrity barrister - who represented Coleen Rooney in Wagatha Christie trial - in 'chance' meeting while he and Meghan were on holiday with Elton John in France
- Harry said he first considered legal action following chance meeting in 2018
Prince Harry did not consider taking legal action against alleged phone hacking until he bumped into his celebrity barrister during a 'chance' meeting while on holiday with wife Meghan and Sir
Elton John in
France, the High Court has heard.
[...]
The duke described subsequently speaking to solicitors to discuss issues he and Meghan were experiencing, adding: 'I think it was a discussion about somehow how to find a way to put the abuse, intrusion and hate that was coming towards me and my wife and seeing if there was any way to find a different course of action without relying on the institution's way.'
Andrew Green KC, for MGN, asked him: 'When did you first go to solicitors to seek advice about a possible claim against MGN?'
Harry replied: 'I didn't go to them. I bumped into Mr Sherborne in France... it's in my book.'
In the Spare excerpt, which was not presented or read to the court, Harry wrote that the barrister was 'a lovely fellow who knew more about the phone-hacking scandal than anyone I'd ever met' and who suggested the duke hire his own lawyer.
Mr Green KC suggested it was not concern over a specific MGN story that led the duke to seek legal advice, with Harry agreeing.
The barrister asked: 'So prior to bumping into Mr Sherborne in France, you hadn't sought advice from lawyers about whether you had a claim against the Mirror Group?'
The duke said: 'No. Nothing at all.'
Mr Green asked him whether Harry had been aware he had a claim against MGN before the conversation.
'Not at all,' the prince replied.
Harry told the court he filed his claims against MGN and News Group 'at around the same time'.
During cross-examination, Mr Green also said it 'wasn't concern over any particular article' which prompted the duke to go to solicitors, to which Harry replied: 'No, I was never shown anything.'
He added that it was 'all contained within the palace and even if I had I wouldn't have been allowed' to make a complaint.
Giving evidence for a second day, Harry said he first considered taking legal action following the chance meeting with David Sherborne in 2018.
www.dailymail.co.uk