Prince Harry in court: William’s prank call, strip club visit, and Chelsy Davy break-up – duke faces more questions from Mirror publisher’s lawyer
Prince Harry has answered questions about a prank voicemail left by his brother William, a visit to a strip club, and his break-up with Chelsy Davy, in his second day giving evidence at the High Court.
Harry was also asked if he would be “disappointed” should the court not find in his favour and decide details about his private life were not obtained by phone hacking by Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) journalists.
The Duke of Sussex said he would be “speculating”, but when pushed further he replied to say he would “feel some injustice”.
Harry told the court: “I believe that phone hacking was [done] on an industrial scale across at least three of the papers at the time… that is beyond any doubt.
“To have a decision against me and any of the other people [bringing a claim], given that Mirror Group have admitted hacking [in relation to other cases], yes it would feel like an injustice… if it wasn’t accepted.”
Andrew Green KC, representing MGN, then asked the duke: “So you want to have been phone hacked?”.
“Nobody wants to be phone hacked,” he replied.
In 2014, MGN admitted liability in four cases of phone hacking, and since then has settled dozens of claims, with stars including Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller. The publisher denies the allegations made by Harry.
Prince Harry is being questioned by MGN’s barrister Andrew Green
Harry arrived outside the court’s Rolls Building in central London in a black Range Rover shortly before 10am, wearing a dark suit and silver tie, before entering the witness box again after nearly five hours of cross-examination on Tuesday.
His witness statement has also been released, containing the full details of all his allegations against MGN, publisher of the Daily Mirror and other titles – a lawsuit that makes him the first senior royal to give evidence in a UK court in more in than 100 years.
After resuming his questioning this morning, Mr Green asked Harry about an article headlined “Chel Shocked”, published in the People in 2006, which reports how his then girlfriend Ms Davy was angry about the royal allegedly receiving a lap dance during a night out with cadet friends.
In his witness statement, Harry said he does not remember Ms Davy being mad at him. “We did speak about it over the phone, but I promised her that I hadn’t had a lap dance and stayed with the three other cadets that had girlfriends,” he wrote.
Speaking in court, Harry said parts of the article were “factually incorrect” – including a reference to a “tall statuesque blonde” who bore a “striking resemblance” to Ms Davy.
Harry’s former girlfriend Chelsea Davy pictured in 2011
Mr Green put it to Harry that many MGN stories included as part of his case contained information that was already available elsewhere, including in articles by rival news outlets.
One story published by the now defunct News Of The World at the time contained details of a voicemail left by Prince William to Harry, mimicking Ms Davy’s “high-pitched” accent, the barrister told the court – saying this was an “important step” to police arresting Clive Goodman, the then royal editor at the News Of The World, and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, over royal phone hacking.
Harry said he was aware of this.
Mr Green also asked about an article headlined “Hooray Harry’s dumped” – which the duke said was “hurtful to say the least” and that “such a private moment was turned into a bit of a laugh”.
The barrister said the “Hooray” name had been used to describe the royal in previous stories and “was not celebrating the demise of your relationship.”
Pop star appears outside Harry court case
Before today’s evidence began, former East 17 star Brian Harvey turned up outside court, shouting about corruption.
He told Sky News that he too was a victim of phone hacking, and that the media is “a joke”.
Brian Harvey outside court – we have blurred this image as it contains information Sky News cannot verify
During his first day in court, Harry criticised Piers Morgan, and said in his witness statement that he felt “physically sick” at the thought of the former Mirror editor and his “band of journalists” allegedly “earwigging” on his mother Princess Diana‘s messages.
Morgan later told Sky News he did not see any of Harry’s comments, but added: “I wish him luck with his privacy campaign and look forward to reading about it in his next book.”
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Piers Morgan reacts to Harry’s claims
As part of our special programmes on the case, Sky News is transcribing Harry’s evidence and recreating his court appearance with an actor.
The royal is suing MGN, attempting to prove that reporters for the Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Sunday People titles were linked to methods including phone hacking, so-called “blagging” or gaining information by deception, and use of private investigators, between 1996 and 2010.
He claims about 140 articles contained information gathered using unlawful methods, and 33 of these have been selected to be considered at the trial.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Harry’s ‘distress’ at press coverage
MGN is contesting the claims and has either denied or not admitted each of them. The publisher also argues that some of the claimants have brought their legal action too late.
Read more:
Duke was calm on day one – but there’s much more to come
Which articles have been brought up in the duke’s case?
The key people named in Prince Harry’s witness statement
As well as Harry, there are three other representative claimants involved in the case: Coronation Street actor Michael Turner, known professionally as Michael Le Vell, who is best known for playing Kevin Webster; Hollyoaks and former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson; and comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife Fiona Wightman.
They are representative of more than 100 claimants overall, including singer and TV star Cheryl, ex-footballer and pundit Ian Wright, and the estate of the late George Michael.
Harry In Court – watch special programme on Sky News tonight at 9pm
Entertainment
Idris Elba joins Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer for launch of new anti-knife crime coalition
Idris Elba will join the prime minister to launch a new anti-knife crime coalition in Downing Street on Monday.
The actor and musician, 52, will attend what is set to be the first annual knife crime summit with Sir Keir Starmer and Home Secretary Yvette Cooper on Monday morning.
As an anti-knife crime campaigner, he will help bring together community groups and victims’ families who have first-hand experience that can be used to change policy.
With the help of the coalition, which will include his Elba Hope Foundation, the government hopes to halve knife crime over the next 10 years.
It is currently in the process of banning ninja swords and strengthening the law on online knife sales.
As well as community leaders and grassroots organisations, the coalition will include tech companies, sports groups, and representatives from the NHS, education sector, and the police, the government said.
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
Ahead of the summit, Elba described the coalition as a “positive step toward rehabilitating our communities from the inside out”.
Read more from Sky News
‘Very dangerous’ British prisoner among escapees
‘Unnecessary leg amputations at children’s hospital’
‘Tough decisions’ on winter fuel payments
The King met with Idris Elba in July. Pic: PA
Earlier this year, he met the King to discuss more ways to reduce youth violence – particularly through the King’s Trust.
When the Luther star was a teenager, he received a £1,500 grant from what was then the Prince’s Trust to attend the National Youth Music Theatre.
In January, he launched his own initiative, Don’t Stop Your Future, when he called for an immediate ban on zombie knives to speed up the previous government’s plans for one later this year.
Idris Elba launched his Don’t Stop Your Future campaign in Parliament Square in January. Pic: PA
Review into online knife sales
As the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Sir Keir says he “saw first-hand the devastating impact knife crime has on young people and their families”.
Describing it as a “national crisis that we will tackle head-on” he reiterated Labour’s promise to halve offences over the next decade.
A rapid review into how knives are sold and delivered to under-18s online is being led by Commander Stephen Clayman, the national policing lead for knife crime.
As part of the new coalition, he will report back to the home secretary by the end of the year.
He warned that “knives are far too easily accessible” and that he hopes to work with “government, retailer and the third sector to find ways we can bring meaningful, long-term change”.
Home Secretary Ms Cooper described the coalition as “crucial” and promised: “We will not sit back while precious lives are being lost and young people’s futures destroyed.”
The launch of the coalition and summit is part of the government’s 10-year plan on knife crime and builds on the Home Office’s Young Futures programme, which is working to offer young people a path away from violence.
Entertainment
Liam Gallagher ‘seriously gutted’ over Oasis ticket chaos as fans join lottery for extra gigs
Fans have started receiving invites to join a lottery to buy tickets for two extra Oasis concerts next year.
It follows a major backlash over ticketing issues for the UK and Ireland gigs, which sold out in less than a day and triggered an investigation by competition watchdogs.
A message posted on Oasis’s X account said they would be sending the invites out to “eligible fans we have been able to identify” who were signed into a Ticketmaster account on Saturday 31 August – when tickets initially went on sale.
Those who were able to join a queue for tickets “may be eligible to take part” and will receive an email on how to register for the ballot.
Ticketmaster was widely criticised for dynamic pricing – a system used during high demand and limited supply – which caused the cost of a standard ticket to more than double from £148 to £355.
The Competition and Markets Authority has asked for evidence from fans, including website screenshots during the buying process, as it examines concerns over whether the policy is fair.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy also promised a government review and the European Commission said it would examine the issue too.
Ticketmaster defended dynamic pricing and said concert prices are down to the “event organiser” who “has priced these tickets according to their market value”.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Mercury artists on dynamic pricing outcry
But dynamic ticket pricing has prompted strong criticism from other artists, including this year’s Mercury Prize winner, English Teacher.
Extra Wembley dates announced
Fans were also furious after being left empty-handed, despite waiting in an online queue for hours.
On Wednesday, Oasis announced they would play two more dates at Wembley Stadium on 27 and 28 September as part of next year’s Live ’25 tour using the new ticketing plan.
In a statement, the band said they hoped the strategy would make “the process far smoother for fans by reducing the stress and time it takes” to obtain tickets.
Read more from Sky News:
Sir Elton back in public after severe eye infection
Nicole Kidman leaves Venice after family emergency
Movies to look out for at London Film Festival 2024
Meanwhile, Liam Gallagher has been speaking about his brother Noel.
Liam will ‘blow kisses’ to Noel on stage
During a series of messages on X he said he “won’t have a bad word said” about him, and added he would be “blowing him kisses in between each song”.
He also addressed the chaos over ticketing: “I’m seriously gutted for people that can’t get tickets, I can’t even go there it hurts my heart and I know people will think I’m taking the piss, but I’m not.”
On Friday he had joked about the price of tickets.
Liam talks setlist for reunion gigs
Replying to one fan who was kicked off Ticketmaster’s website while trying to buy tickets for the band’s Cardiff gig, Liam replied: “If that’s what happened I’m sure someone will be in touch coz that ain’t cool, good luck.”
Liam also gave away some details about their tracks for their reunion gigs, telling one fan Don’t Go Away from their 1997 album Be Here Now was “not on the list”.
Formed in the early 1990s, Oasis rose to fame with songs such as Supersonic, Cigarettes & Alcohol and Live Forever, before second album (What’s The Story) Morning Glory gave them their first number one single, Some Might Say.
As film festival season gathers pace, the 68th BFI London Film Festival (LFF) has announced its full 2024 programme, featuring a whopping 39 world premieres.
Angelina Jolie, Daniel Craig and Sir Elton John are among the stars to head up the 255-strong collection of movies from around the world.
Here are seven LFF films to look out for – with some hotly tipped for the coming awards season.
Saoirse Ronan in Blitz. Pic: BFF via Getty
Blitz
London-born director Steve McQueen opens the festival for the third time, with the world premiere of his World War Two drama Blitz. The movie re-creates a war-torn London, bombarded by nightly air raids, as battle rages all around.
Saoirse Ronan stars as Rita, an East End mother who makes the heartbreaking decision to send her young son George, played by newcomer Elliott Heffernan, to safety in the countryside. But, George has other ideas, and is determined to return home despite the many dangers ahead.
The ensemble cast includes Kathy Burke, Benjamin Clementine, Harris Dickinson and Stephen Graham, with a score by Oscar-winning composer Hans Zimmer.
Angelina Jolie stars as Maria Callas. Pic: BFF via Getty
Maria
Angelina Jolie makes a return to the big screen after several years away, starring in the biopic about famed opera singer Maria Callas, one of the greatest sopranos of all time.
While the majority of the vocals we hear in the movie are from original recordings of Callas in her prime, the depictions of singing at the end of her life are mostly Jolie’s own voice. The Oscar-winning actress, who spent seven months training for the role, has called it the most demanding of her career.
Directed by Pablo Larrain, it depicts Callas’s final days in Paris when she was addicted to anti-anxiety drugs, looking back to the peak of her career when she wowed audiences around the world. Larrain has said he hopes it will encourage people to listen to more opera.
Daniel Craig in Queer. Pic: BFF via Getty
Queer
Bond star Daniel Craig plays a drug-addicted American living in 1950s Mexico, in the historical drama Queer.
Based on the 1985 semi-autobiographical novel by Beat Generation author William Burroughs, the film delves into the nightlife of Mexico City, in an immersive flood of colour, and doesn’t shy away from full-on sex scenes.
With some reviewers praising it as Craig’s best performance to date, it also stars Jason Schwartzman, Lesley Manville and newcomer Drew Starkey.
Amy Adams in Nightbitch. Pic: BFF via Getty
Nightbitch
A comedy horror starring the ever-adaptable Amy Adams as a stay-at-home mother who slowly thinks she may be turning into a dog.
Based on the 2021 novel by Rachel Yoder, it’s pitched as a modern feminist fable, examining a society in which women are told they can “have it all”.
The movie is directed by Marielle Heller, who in 2020 was one of the female filmmakers many felt were snubbed by the Oscars and Golden Globes when she failed to get a nomination for her movie A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. Heller will no doubt be hoping this film – as offbeat as it is – is a different story.
Jeremy Strong and Sebastian Stan (L-R). Pic: Apprentice Productions Ontario / Profile Productions/ Tailored Films
The Apprentice
One of the most polarizing political figures of the 21st century, this film unpacks the young Donald Trump, examining his life before politics, and his career in real estate in New York in the 1970s and 1980s.
Directed by Iranian-Danish filmmaker Ali Abbasi, it stars Sebastian Stan stars as Trump, with Succession actor Jeremy Strong (aka Kendall Roy) playing attorney Roy Cohn.
Possibly the most controversial film of the year, it’s been beset with legal issues, not least of which include a cease-and-desist letter from Mr Trump’s legal team.
With a US election due in November, this one will at least be topical when it finally makes it to cinemas.
Sadie Frost with her subject, Twiggy. Pic: BFF via Getty
Twiggy
This is the first fully approved documentary to tell British model Twiggy’s life story.
Directed by actor-turned-director Sadie Frost it tells the story of the fashion icon – whose real name is Lesley Lawson – going back to her working-class childhood in northwest London, through to her international stardom as a celebrity model, and her career as an actor, singer, fashion designer, writer and TV presenter.
Other noteworthy documentaries screening at LFF include Elton John: Never Too Late, about the singer’s final US live shows, and Super/Man: The Christopher Reeve Story, which looks back at the late actor’s rise to fame as the superhero and his life following a horse-riding accident that left him paralysed from the neck down.
Pharrell Williams’s life story in Lego. Pic: Courtesy of Focus Features
Piece By Piece
A movie about the life of musician Pharrell Williams will close the festival – but told entirely using Lego.
Directed by Morgan Neville, and produced by Williams himself, it depicts the Happy singer’s early life in Virginia, through to his rise to fame as he tops the charts.
Williams recorded five new songs for the soundtrack, and many think it’s a likely contender for best animated feature and best original song come awards season.
LFF takes place from Wednesday 9 October to Sunday 20 October.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports5 months agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports10 months agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Environment1 year agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Sports3 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Environment1 year agoTesla advances Powerwall pilot project with German electric company