Prince Harry accused of living in 'Alice in Wonderland' in court battle
Prince Harry's claims that Buckingham Palace had a 'secret agreement' with the publisher of the Sun is 'Alice in Wonderland stuff'
PA
Prince Harry's claims that Buckingham Palace had a “secret agreement” with the publisher of the Sun is “Alice in Wonderland stuff”, the High Court heard.
The Duke of Sussex suggested a deal was made to stop him bringing a phone hacking claim.
Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for The Sun and the former News Of The World.
The Prince claims a secret deal between Buckingham Palace and NGN bosses was arranged in order to avoid a hacking claim until September 2019.
Harry is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN) over allegations he was targeted by journalists and private investigators working for The Sun and the former News Of The World
PAHarry’s lawyers are now seeking a High Court ruling to allow the hacking claim to be amended with details of the alleged pact, which he first informed of “around 2012”.
NGN, which rejects claims that any unlawful activity took place at The Sun, denies that such an agreement was in place.
On Wednesday, Anthony Hudson KC, representing NGN, said the Duke’s claims of a secret agreement was “Alice in Wonderland stuff” and a “construct” of his lawyers.
He added that the Duke had failed to provide a “single shred of evidence” for the claim.
Hudson told Justice Fancourt: “This agreement is such a secret agreement that no one apart from the claimant [The Duke] knows about it. It is a bizarre situation.”
He said that Harry had not provided any information on whether this agreement was put into writing or orally, adding: “He has not put forward any evidence to demonstrate the reaching or the making of the agreement in 2012.
“He does not appear to have made any enquiries to the palace or his former solicitors. That is despite the fact this case, he has known about it for 11 years… There is not a single shred of evidence.
“There is a gaping hole in the claimant’s case which is not dependent on NGN disclosure. This is Alice in Wonderland stuff… that is the context on which this application is made.
Prince Harry claims he and his brother Prince William found out about the agreement in 2012
PA“The delay is inexplicable… and there is no explanation for the delay which is staggering for making an application of this sort.
“It is now becoming abundantly clear... the case, is in reality, a construct of his lawyers.”
An earlier witness statement from the Duke said he and his brother Prince William were first told of the agreement by “either the Royal family’s solicitor Gerrard Tyrell & Lewis” or “someone else from the Institution” and that “there was no possibility of either of us bringing a claim against NGN for phone hacking at the time.”
He said the agreement was to avoid a situation “where a member of the Royal family would have to sit in the witness box and recount the specific details of the private and highly sensitive voicemails that had been intercepted by Clive Goodman – the former royal editor for the News of the World”.