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Prince Harry: I couldn't trust anybody due to phone hacking Prince Harry: I couldn't trust anybody due to phone hacking
(32 minutes later)
Watch: Prince Harry arrives at court to give evidenceWatch: Prince Harry arrives at court to give evidence
Watch: Prince Harry arrives at court to give evidenceWatch: Prince Harry arrives at court to give evidence
Prince Harry has accused tabloid newspapers of hacking his voicemails when he was a teenager, saying it made him feel he "couldn't trust anybody".Prince Harry has accused tabloid newspapers of hacking his voicemails when he was a teenager, saying it made him feel he "couldn't trust anybody".
In a witness statement released in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), he said the press had also cast him as a "cheat" and a "thicko".In a witness statement released in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN), he said the press had also cast him as a "cheat" and a "thicko".
Harry, who is giving evidence in court, said he had played up to headlines when young, leading to a "downward spiral".Harry, who is giving evidence in court, said he had played up to headlines when young, leading to a "downward spiral".
He claims journalists unlawfully gathered information, which MGN denies.He claims journalists unlawfully gathered information, which MGN denies.
By appearing in the witness stand, Harry has become the first senior royal to give evidence in a court of law since Edward VII in 1891.By appearing in the witness stand, Harry has become the first senior royal to give evidence in a court of law since Edward VII in 1891.
In his written statement issued as he appeared at the High Court in London, Prince Harry accused the tabloid press of casting members of the Royal Family into roles and creating an "alternative and distorted version of me".In his written statement issued as he appeared at the High Court in London, Prince Harry accused the tabloid press of casting members of the Royal Family into roles and creating an "alternative and distorted version of me".
"They then start to edge you towards playing the role or roles that suit them best and which sells as many newspapers as possible, especially if you are the 'spare' to the 'heir'", he said."They then start to edge you towards playing the role or roles that suit them best and which sells as many newspapers as possible, especially if you are the 'spare' to the 'heir'", he said.
"You're then either the 'playboy prince', the 'failure', the 'drop out' or, in my case, the 'thicko', the 'cheat', the 'underage drinker', the 'irresponsible drug taker'...""You're then either the 'playboy prince', the 'failure', the 'drop out' or, in my case, the 'thicko', the 'cheat', the 'underage drinker', the 'irresponsible drug taker'..."
The duke also said stories he believes originated from hacking not only caused security concerns, but damaged his relationships.The duke also said stories he believes originated from hacking not only caused security concerns, but damaged his relationships.
"I felt that I couldn't trust anybody, which was an awful feeling for me especially at such a young age," he said."I felt that I couldn't trust anybody, which was an awful feeling for me especially at such a young age," he said.
His statement is critical of the broader tabloid press, while there are also specific claims levelled against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People.His statement is critical of the broader tabloid press, while there are also specific claims levelled against the publisher of the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and The People.
In the statement, he also: In his statement, he also:
Says the thought of Daily Mirror's former editor Piers Morgan "and his band of journalists earwigging into my mother's private and sensitive messages", made him feel "physically sick" Says the thought of Daily Mirror's former editor Piers Morgan "and his band of journalists earwigging into my mother's private and sensitive messages", makes him feel "physically sick"
Claims he and his wife, Meghan, have been subjected to a "barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation" from Mr Morgan as a result of the claim against MGNClaims he and his wife, Meghan, have been subjected to a "barrage of horrific personal attacks and intimidation" from Mr Morgan as a result of the claim against MGN
Alleges journalists would illegally obtain information about former girlfriend Chelsy Davy's flights to the UK to see himAlleges journalists would illegally obtain information about former girlfriend Chelsy Davy's flights to the UK to see him
Says the government and press are at "rock bottom" Criticises the government and the British press as both being at "rock bottom"
Accuses the press of repeatedly trying to break up his relationships, saying the "twisted objective" continues todayAccuses the press of repeatedly trying to break up his relationships, saying the "twisted objective" continues today
Harry alleges about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.Harry alleges about 140 articles published between 1996 and 2010 contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.
Under cross-examination, Andrew Green KC, representing MGN, put to the duke that some stories were written by Mirror Group newspapers as follow-ups to articles in rival publications.Under cross-examination, Andrew Green KC, representing MGN, put to the duke that some stories were written by Mirror Group newspapers as follow-ups to articles in rival publications.
But the duke said journalists were "desperate for anything royal" and "any element of our private lives is interesting to the public".But the duke said journalists were "desperate for anything royal" and "any element of our private lives is interesting to the public".
"Just because there was a story which came out previously doesn't mean there weren't attempts to take the story further," he said. "Just because there was a story which came out previously doesn't mean there weren't attempts to take the story further," he told the court.
Harry was also asked about an article about him having Sunday lunch in a gastro pub on London's Fulham Road, which appeared in the Daily Mirror's 3am celebrity gossip column in September 2000.Harry was also asked about an article about him having Sunday lunch in a gastro pub on London's Fulham Road, which appeared in the Daily Mirror's 3am celebrity gossip column in September 2000.
The Daily Mirror said a photographer had been tipped off about the lunch, but in his witness statement the prince said he did not know how anyone would have known about the visit.The Daily Mirror said a photographer had been tipped off about the lunch, but in his witness statement the prince said he did not know how anyone would have known about the visit.
"I always found these kind of 'coincidences' to be odd," he said in his statement. "I always found these kind of 'coincidences' to be odd," he said.
The duke told the court he doesn't walk in public and could not have been seen by bystanders. The duke told the court he did not walk in public and could not have been seen by bystanders.
Harry also said in his statement he believed he was first given a mobile phone when he started at Eton, in 1998.Harry also said in his statement he believed he was first given a mobile phone when he started at Eton, in 1998.
In court, Mr Green said if this was the case, a 1996 Daily Mirror article, which is among those being considered by the judge, could not have involved any hacking of his mobile phone.In court, Mr Green said if this was the case, a 1996 Daily Mirror article, which is among those being considered by the judge, could not have involved any hacking of his mobile phone.
In response, Prince Harry told the court that his security at school had a separate room with a landline - and his complaint about the article is that it is inexplicable how the newspaper got the information.In response, Prince Harry told the court that his security at school had a separate room with a landline - and his complaint about the article is that it is inexplicable how the newspaper got the information.
Harry is one of four people bringing claims against the publisher, alongside Coronation Street actors Michael Turner - known professionally as Michael Le Vell - and Nikki Sanderson, as well as Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of the comedian Paul Whitehouse.Harry is one of four people bringing claims against the publisher, alongside Coronation Street actors Michael Turner - known professionally as Michael Le Vell - and Nikki Sanderson, as well as Fiona Wightman, the ex-wife of the comedian Paul Whitehouse.
The claimants allege unlawful methods were used to obtain information for stories and say senior executives must have known about it and failed to stop it, which MGN denies.The claimants allege unlawful methods were used to obtain information for stories and say senior executives must have known about it and failed to stop it, which MGN denies.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
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Prince Harry, Duke of SussexPrince Harry, Duke of Sussex
The Royal Family and the mediaThe Royal Family and the media
Phone HackingPhone Hacking