Prince Harry trial: What were the articles at the centre of the Duke of Sussex hacking trial?
At the centre of Prince Harry’s High Court battle with Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) were a selection of 33 articles dated between 1996 and 2009.
The stories, published in the Daily Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and the People, covered the Duke of Sussex’s relationship with his family and ex-girlfriend Chelsy Davy, his military service, injuries and illnesses, and allegations of drug use.
Mr Justice Fancourt found that 15 out of the 33 articles were the product of phone hacking or other unlawful information gathering.
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The judge said Harry’s phone was “hacked to a modest extent”, which was probably “carefully controlled by certain people at each newspaper” and happened on occasions from about the end of 2003 to April 2009.
Drugs allegations
The judge found articles relating to Harry’s alleged drug taking had likely been the product of unlawful information gathering.
“Harry took drugs” and “Cool it Harry” – Sunday Mirror on 13 January 2002
Harry said that whilst this article, which contained allegations he had smoked cannabis, was a follow-up to stories in the News of the World, there were invoices concerning his friend Guy Pelly and people connected to the story at the time.
MGN denied any unlawful information gathering and said that news agencies, a freelance journalist, and a source were paid for the articles.
“Harry’s cocaine ecstasy and GHB parties” – The Mirror on 14 January 2002
This front-page story claimed that some of the duke’s friends had taken “hard drugs” in front of him, including ecstasy, cocaine and GHB, reporting that the Prince of Wales – now the King – was “terrified”.
Harry said in his evidence “it is not clear to me where the defendant’s journalists could have possibly obtained these quotes from”. But MGN denied unlawful activity and said there is no evidence of phone hacking.
In relation to both stories, Mr Justice Fancourt said: “I find that it is very likely that unlawful methods were used, including voicemail interception (VMI), though I am not persuaded that this included the duke’s own phone.
“I am persuaded that VMI of some of the duke’s associates probably took place, though not of the duke himself.”
Harry’s relationship with Chelsy Davy
Many of the articles the judge sided with Harry on related to his relationship with Chelsy Davy, who he first met while she was a boarder at Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.
“Er, OK if I drop you off here?” – Sunday Mirror on 2 December 2007
This article claimed that a photo of Ms Davy leaving Kensington Palace was “proof” the duke had “patched things up” with her.
Harry questioned “what are the chances” that a photographer was there to capture the moment, adding that MGN made a “mind-boggling” amount of inquiries and payments. The publisher said there is no evidence of phone hacking and that the duke had “no reasonable expectation of privacy” in dropping Ms Davy off outside the palace gates.
The judge found “information about the whereabouts of Ms Davy and the arrangements for her to spend the night in Kensington Palace are likely to have been obtained by voicemail interception”.
“Harry is a Chelsy fan” – Daily Mirror on 29 November 2004
Harry said the author of a story showing a picture of Ms Davy, whom the duke had started dating, was a “prolific” user of private investigators who were known phone hackers, while MGN said the details came from a previous report in the Mail on Sunday, as well as two confidential sources.
Read more: Key findings in Prince Harry v Mirror Group Newspapers judgment
The judge said the story was “probably stood up by the Mirror by commissioning PIs to blag flight information, credit card details or phone billing data”, adding: “That unlawful activity was, I find, specifically instructed from London.”
Harry’s military career
“Soldier Harry’s Taliban” – The People on 28 September 2008
This article claimed Harry had been “banned from going back to war” in Afghanistan, despite his “desperation” to return.
He alleged details were obtained by “unlawful means” and that people with the information would not want to “jeopardise my career by speaking about it”, but the publisher said there is no evidence of phone hacking and the “public interest” in the story outweighed “any minimal privacy interest”.
Mr Justice Fancourt said: “There is likely to have been VMI or other unlawful information gathering (UIG) involved in reporting this story.”
The articles Harry lost
The judge said the other 18 articles didn’t stand up to careful analysis, noting “there was a tendency for the duke in his evidence to assume that everything published was the product of voicemail interception because phone hacking was rife within Mirror Group at the time”.
Lazy journalism
Mr Justice Fancourt said some of the articles were just “lazy journalism”, such as:
“3am: What a way to Harry on” – Daily Mirror on 26 March 2009
This article claimed Harry “openly cavorted” with a new girlfriend at a Twickenham rugby match.
The duke said details in the article are incorrect and that payments to a private investigator show the woman was of interest to MGN, while the publisher said information came from a prior Press Association report.
The judge said: “This 3am article was just lazy journalism, “our spy” was an invention, and no UIG was involved in relation to the duke’s private information, which in any event could not include what happened in a hospitality box at a public event.”
Hopeless
Other claims were dismissed as “hopeless”, including:
“Snap… Harry breaks thumb like William; Exclusive” – Daily Mirror on 11 November 2000
An article reported that Harry had chipped a bone in his thumb and had a minor operation following an accident during a game of football.
The duke said he found the level of detail in the story as “surprising” and that he believed the palace had been approached for comment rather than being a source. However, MGN said the information was in the public domain and had been repeatedly reported the previous day.
Mr Justice Fancourt said “this claim is hopeless”, adding: “There is no evidence and no inherent likelihood that VMI or UIG were used in this case.”
“Harry is ready to quit Oz” – Daily Mirror on 27 September 2003
This page-seven story reported that the duke was considering leaving his gap year in Australia due to press intrusion.
Harry said evidence showed that MGN was paying to have him watched as the piece describes that he was inside “watching videos”, while the publisher said the information came from press statements by Clarence House, and also appeared in other outlets.
The judge said: “The claim in respect of this article is also hopeless.”
Pure speculation
“Rugger off Harry” – Sunday Mirror on 11 November 2000
This article described an injury the duke had suffered while playing polo which had resulted in him having to stop playing rugby.
Harry said the article is “brazen” and attributes some details to an unnamed royal source despite there being no comment from the palace, while MGN said the information came from a “confidential Eton source” with no evidence of unlawful information gathering.
“That is pure speculation,” the judge said of Harry’s claim. “I consider that it is more likely than not that there was no unlawful means used to obtain this information.”
European leaders who make up the ‘coalition of the willing’ are set to hold a conference call on Sunday – ahead of crunch talks between Donald Trump and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy next week.
The coalition – co-chaired by Sir Keir Starmer, France’s President Emmanuel Macron and Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz – has the aim of bringing countries together to protect a peace deal in Ukraine.
Top of the agenda at Sunday’s meeting will be securing a concrete commitment from Mr Trump on a security guarantee that would act as a powerful backstop in any Russia-Ukraine peacekeeping arrangement.
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European leaders seemed buoyed by the US president’s most recent hints on the subject, in the knowledge that US military might is likely to deter Vladimir Putin from advancing in the future.
They will also discuss how to bring Mr Zelenskyy into talks after Mr Trump and Mr Putin’s Alaska meeting saw him left out in the cold.
The Russian and US presidents met in Alaska on Friday. Pic: AP
Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Pc: Reuters
In coordinated statements, European leaders said Mr Zelenskyy must play a greater role in future talks, and that peace cannot be achieved without him.
The hard bit will be to persuade the unpredictable US administration to change its approach, something that has proved almost impossible in the past.
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When Mr Trump re-entered the White House and made it clear the US would no longer provide a blank cheque to protect peace in Europe, others decided they had to step up, and the ‘coalition of the willing’ was thrown together in March.
Since then, information about the allied peacekeeping effort has been patchy, but we know it includes over 30 countries, which have been asked to pledge whatever military support they can, including troops.
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What has been forthcoming from the group though, has been consistent attempts to use their limited leverage to put pressure on the US.
That will continue ahead of crunch talks between Mr Trump and Mr Zelenskyy, which are set to take place in Washington on Monday.
In a small hut next to Newlyn Harbour at the bottom of Cornwall, the next generation of fishermen are quite literally learning the ropes.
Around a dozen students are on the eighth day of a two-week intensive course to become commercial fishers.
From knot and ropework to chart plotting, navigation to sea survival, by the end of the course they’ll be qualified to take a berth on a vessel.
While many are following in the footsteps of their fathers, others are here to try an entirely different career.
Elliot Fairbairn
Elliot Fairbairn, 28, is originally from London and has been working as a groundworker.
“I’m not from a fishing family – I just like a challenge,” he says.
He’s put his current job on hold to see how fishing works out.
“It makes you feel good doing a hard job. I think that’s what’s getting lost these days, people want an easy job, easy money and they don’t understand what it takes to be successful. Sometimes you’ve got to put that in the work.”
Elliot already has a job lined up for next week on a ring-netter boat.
“I’m ecstatic – I’m very pumped!” he tells me.
Students take part in a two-week intensive course to become commercial fishers
Also on the course is 17-year-old Oscar Ashby. He’s doing his A-Levels at Truro College and training to be a healthcare worker at the main hospital in Cornwall.
“I’m part of the staff bank so can work whatever hours I want – which would fit quite well if I wanted to do a week’s fishing,” he says.
It’s his love of being outside that has drawn him to get qualified.
“It’s hands-on, it’s not a bad way to make money. It’s one of the last jobs that is like being a hunter-gatherer really – everything else is really industrialised, ” Oscar says.
The course was over-subscribed.
The charity that runs it – Seafood Cornwall Training – could only offer places to half those who applied.
‘A foot in the door’
“The range of knowledge they’re gathering is everything from how to tie a few knots all the way on how to register with HMRC to pay and manage their tax because they’d be self-employed fishermen,” manager Clare Leverton tells me.
“What we’re trying to do with this course is give them a foot in the door.
“By meeting our tutors, skippers on the quay, vessel managers, they start to understand who they’re going to have to talk to to get jobs.”
Getting fresh blood into the industry is vital.
Over the last 30 years, the number of fishermen in the UK has nearly halved – from around 20,000 to 10,000.
The average age of a fisherman in the UK is 55.
Aging workforce
Mike Cohen, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations
“I think we’re seeing the effects of having an aging workforce,” says Mike Cohen, chief executive of the National Federation of Fishermen’s Organisations (NFFO).
“Fishing is a traditional occupation in most places around the country. A lot of family businesses, and as people are getting older, they’re starting to retire out of the industry.”
The decline comes at a time of frustration and anger in the industry too.
Many feel the prime minister’s post-Brexit deal with the EU back in May sold fishing out by guaranteeing another 12 years of access to EU boats to fish in UK waters, rather than allowing it to be negotiated annually.
“A large part of the effort the EU exerts in UK waters is within our territorial waters, so within 12 miles of the shore. And that’s the area that’s most pressured,” adds Mr Cohen.
“For new people getting into the industry it’s the area that they can reach in the sort of small boats that new starters tend to work in. They’re increasingly pressured in that space and by keeping all of those European boats having access to it for free, for nothing, that puts them under even more pressure.”
The government says it will always back “our great British fishing industry” and insists the EU deal protects Britain’s fishing access.
‘A brilliant career’
To further promote getting young people into commercial fishing, the Cornwall Fish Producers Organisation has helped set up the Young Fishermen Network.
Skipper Tom Lambourne, 29, helped set up the group.
“There’s not enough young people coming into it and getting involved in it,” he says.
“It’s actually a brilliant career. It’s a hard career – you do have to sacrifice a lot to get a lot out of fishing – your time is one of them. But the pros of that certainly outweigh it and it’s a really good job.”
Tom Lambourne, from the Young Fishermen Network
Tom says the network supports new fishers by holding social events and helping them find jobs: “There’s never been a collective for young fishermen.
“For a youngster getting into the fishing industry to be sort of part of that – knowing there’s other youngsters coming in in the same position – they can chat to one another, it’s pretty cool really.”
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In 2021, UK fishing contributed around 0.03% to GDP – with an economic output of £483m.
Economically, it is not a big player.
However, studies suggest that each fisherman creates 15 other jobs in the seafood trade on land.
It’s also a huge part of the fabric of the UK’s identity and landscape – and one that the next generation will have to fight to keep alive.
A man was ejected from Anfield after reports of racial abuse directed at Bournemouth winger Antoine Semenyo during the season’s opening Premier League game against Liverpool.
Match referee Anthony Taylor paused play in the 29th minute after Semenyo accused a spectator of racist abuse.
An anti-discrimination message was read out to the Anfield crowd, and it is understood that police officers went into the referee’s room at half-time.
Merseyside Police said an investigation is under way after the 47-year-old man’s identity was confirmed and he was removed from the ground.
Chief Inspector Kev Chatterton, the match commander for the Liverpool v Bournemouth game, said: “Merseyside Police will not tolerate hate crime of any form.
“We take incidents like this very seriously, and in cases like this we will be proactively seeking football banning orders, with the club, against those responsible.”
He added: “There is no place for racism and it is vital that anyone who witnesses such an offence reports it to stewards, or the police immediately, so we can take the necessary action like we did this evening.
“As with all matches, we work very closely with both Liverpool and Everton FC to ensure the safety of the public, and the players.”
A spokesperson for Liverpool said the club was “aware of an allegation of racist abuse made during our Premier League game against Bournemouth”.
Semenyo with his teammates during the match. Pic: PA
The Liverpool spokesperson said: “We condemn racism and discrimination in all forms, it has no place in society, or football.
“The club is unable to comment further as tonight’s alleged is incident is the subject of an ongoing police investigation, which we will support fully.”
After the incident, Semenyo scored twice in the second half to help bring Bournemouth back from two goals down at Anfield before Liverpool went on to eventually win the contest 4-2.
Bournemouth captain Adam Smith told Sky Sports News afterwards: “It shouldn’t be happening. I don’t know how Ant’s played on to be honest and come up with those goals. It’s totally unacceptable.
“Something needs to be done. Taking the knee isn’t having an effect. We’re supporting him and hopefully he’ll be OK.
“I wanted him to react because that’s what I would have done, but this shows what type of man he is…to come up with those goals showed the type of guy he is.
“To be fair the Liverpool players were very supportive as well towards Antoine and the rest of the team. It was handled in the right way but… so angry.
“I don’t know what else we can do. No one’s getting it. I don’t know what to say anymore. I just feel for Ant… shocking.”
The Premier League said in a statement that its “on-field anti-discrimination protocol” had been followed and the incident “will now be fully investigated”.
“We offer our full support to the player and both clubs,” it added. “Racism has no place in our game, or anywhere in society. We will continue to work with stakeholders and authorities to ensure our stadiums are an inclusive and welcoming environment for all.”
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The Football Association said it was “concerned” about the allegation of racism towards Semenyo and that it would ensure “appropriate action” would be taken.
The incident comes two days after Tottenham Hotspur player Mathys Tel faced racist abuse online following a missed penalty in his team’s UEFA Super Cup victory over Paris Saint-Germain.
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