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Prosecutor Says Kate Middleton’s Phone Was Hacked Prosecutor Says Kate Middleton’s Phone Was Hacked
(35 minutes later)
LONDON — A prosecutor in a high-profile trial on Thursday accused Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid of hacking into the voice mail of the Duchess of Cambridge when she was known as Kate Middleton before her marriage to Prince William, second in line to the throne. LONDON — A prosecutor in a high-profile trial on Thursday accused Rupert Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid of hacking into the voice mail of the Duchess of Cambridge when she was known as Kate Middleton, before her marriage to Prince William, second in line to the throne.
Transcripts read in court by the prosecutor, Andrew Edis, quoted the prince as saying “Hi, baby, it’s me” in one voice mail and referring to her as “babykins.” They also chronicled his admission that he was almost shot with blank rounds during a night navigation drill. Transcripts read in court by the prosecutor, Andrew Edis, quoted the prince as saying “Hi, baby, it’s me” in one voice mail message and referring to her as “babykins.” They also chronicled his admission that he was almost shot with blank rounds during a night navigation drill.
The recordings were discovered during a police investigation into phone hacking that convulsed Mr. Murdoch’s British tabloid empire — and much of the British press, police and political elite — in 2011. Mr. Murdoch closed The News of the World that year after accusations that its reporters had hacked into the voice mail of a kidnapped teenager, Milly Dowler, who was later found murdered. The recordings were discovered during a police investigation into phone hacking that convulsed Mr. Murdoch’s British tabloid empire — and much of the British press, the police and the political elite — in 2011. Mr. Murdoch closed The News of the World that year after accusations that its reporters had hacked into the voice mail of a kidnapped teenager, Milly Dowler, who was later found murdered.
The recordings read out on Thursday were said to have been found in the homes of Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator employed by The News of the World, and Clive Goodman, the newspaper’s former royal editor. Both men served jail terms in 2007 for hacking royal aides’ phones. Some of the recordings read out on Thursday were said to have been found in the home of Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator employed by The News of the World. He and Clive Goodman, the newspaper’s former royal editor, served jail terms in 2007 for hacking royal aides’ phones.
The latest disclosure is certain to be seen as a bombshell as prosecutors press an array of charges against two former top Murdoch executives, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, and five other people.The latest disclosure is certain to be seen as a bombshell as prosecutors press an array of charges against two former top Murdoch executives, Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, and five other people.
Past allegations of royal hacking have focused on interception of their aides’ voice mail messages. Past allegations of royal hacking have focused on the interception of their aides’ voice mail messages.
The prince’s messages were said by the prosecution to have been intercepted in 2006, while William was attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, five years before his marriage.The prince’s messages were said by the prosecution to have been intercepted in 2006, while William was attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, five years before his marriage.
Mr. Edis said that a message left for Prince Harry, William’s younger brother, had also been intercepted.Mr. Edis said that a message left for Prince Harry, William’s younger brother, had also been intercepted.
Ms. Brooks, 45, a former top editor and executive at Mr. Murdoch’s British newspapers, and Mr. Coulson, 45, who had also been an editor and went to become head of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron, have both denied conspiracy and other charges.Ms. Brooks, 45, a former top editor and executive at Mr. Murdoch’s British newspapers, and Mr. Coulson, 45, who had also been an editor and went to become head of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron, have both denied conspiracy and other charges.
Since her marriage to William, the Duchesss of Cambridge has frequently been referred to as a potential Queen of England, adding spice to the charges that her voice mail was hacked.Since her marriage to William, the Duchesss of Cambridge has frequently been referred to as a potential Queen of England, adding spice to the charges that her voice mail was hacked.
Mr. Edis said The News of the World ran stories drawing on the phone intercepts. Mr. Edis said The News of the World had run stories drawing on the phone intercepts.
In one message, Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, was quoted as telling Ms. Middleton: “Hi baby. Um, sorry, I’ve just got back in off my night navigation exercise.”In one message, Prince William, now the Duke of Cambridge, was quoted as telling Ms. Middleton: “Hi baby. Um, sorry, I’ve just got back in off my night navigation exercise.”
“I had a busy day today again,” the prince was heard to say. “I’ve been running around the woods of Aldershot chasing shadows and getting horribly lost, and I walked into some other regiment’s ambush, which was slightly embarrassing because I nearly got shot.”“I had a busy day today again,” the prince was heard to say. “I’ve been running around the woods of Aldershot chasing shadows and getting horribly lost, and I walked into some other regiment’s ambush, which was slightly embarrassing because I nearly got shot.”
“Not by live rounds, but by blank rounds, which would have been very embarrassing, though.”“Not by live rounds, but by blank rounds, which would have been very embarrassing, though.”
The court was also told that a male caller put on a high voice in a message left for Prince Harry, pretending to be Chelsy Davy, the younger prince’s girlfriend at the time, and complimenting him on his good looks and ginger hair.The court was also told that a male caller put on a high voice in a message left for Prince Harry, pretending to be Chelsy Davy, the younger prince’s girlfriend at the time, and complimenting him on his good looks and ginger hair.
The revelations in court might stir uncomfortable memories for William and others in the royal family including his father, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.The revelations in court might stir uncomfortable memories for William and others in the royal family including his father, Prince Charles, the heir to the throne.
In 1993 -- before the divorce in 1996 of William’s father and his mother, Princess Diana — the so-called “Camillagate” tapes recorded sexually explicit remarks by Charles in a late-night conversation with Camilla Parker-Bowles, who is now Charles’s second wife and is known as the Duchess of Cornwall.In 1993 -- before the divorce in 1996 of William’s father and his mother, Princess Diana — the so-called “Camillagate” tapes recorded sexually explicit remarks by Charles in a late-night conversation with Camilla Parker-Bowles, who is now Charles’s second wife and is known as the Duchess of Cornwall.
The conversation included Prince Charles expressing a wish to be a tampon.The conversation included Prince Charles expressing a wish to be a tampon.
A year earlier, Diana was recorded talking to a man, subsequently identified by newspapers as a longtime friend, James Gilbey, who said he loved her and called her “Squidgy.” That became known as the “Squidgygate” affair.A year earlier, Diana was recorded talking to a man, subsequently identified by newspapers as a longtime friend, James Gilbey, who said he loved her and called her “Squidgy.” That became known as the “Squidgygate” affair.
The recordings were apparently made by people using radio scanners.The recordings were apparently made by people using radio scanners.