Prince Harry – latest court news: Privacy battle continues as King in …

The King and Queen Consort have arrived in Germany for the start of their first state visit which has been overshadowed by the postponement of the French leg of their European tour. Berlin's Brandenburg Gate will be the backdrop later for Charles and Camilla's official welcome to Germany, the first time the landmark has been used to welcome any visiting head of state. It comes as Prince Harry on Tuesday accused the royal family of "without doubt" withholding information from him "for a long time" about phone hacking as they did not want to "open a can of worms", the High Court heard.

The allegation - relating to News Group Newspapers - emerged in a witness statement submitted by the Duke of Sussex in the high-profile privacy case against Daily Mail publisher Associated Newspapers, which he is bringing alongside Sir Elton John, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, and others. Harry did not attend the third day of the hearing today.

Key Points

King Charles and Queen Consort arrive in Berlin for first state visit
Prince Harry claims Buckingham Palace 'withheld' information about historic phone hacking
Daily Mail publisher claims privacy case uses files provided confidentially to Leveson Inquiry ...
Doreen Lawrence feels 'played for a fool' after thinking Mail 'really cared' about son's murder

ICYMI: Friends close to Prince Andrew rubbish reports he is planning to write memoir

05:15 , Joe Middleton Friends close to Prince Andrew have hit out at reports that he is planning to write a memoir.

On Sunday, a number of newspapers claimed that the Duke of York was in talks to produce a tell-all autobiography, following the success of Prince Harry's book 'Spare'. However, friends of his family have taken the unusual step to make his views known following the reports.

Friends close to Prince Andrew rubbish claims he is planning to write memoir

King Charles and Camilla arrive in Berlin for first state visit as monarch

04:15 , Joe Middleton

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have 'paternal' friendship with Harry

03:15 , Joe Middleton Story continues

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have a "paternal and protective" friendship with the Duke of Sussex, the singer's husband has said. The couple are part of a group - along with Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, former Liberal Democrat MP Sir Simon Hughes and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley - bringing claims over allegations Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) carried out or commissioned illegal or unlawful information-gathering. The allegations - which are denied - include the hiring of private investigators to place listening devices inside cars and the accessing and recording of private phone conversations.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have 'paternal' friendship with Harry

ICYMI: Prince Harry leaves High Court after second day of case against Daily Mail publisher

02:15 , Joe Middleton

ICYMI: 'Paranoid' Prince Harry lost friends over 'unlawful' newspaper stories, court hears

01:15 , Joe Middleton

Duke 'deprived of important aspects of his teenage years' by newspaper publisher, lawyer says.

'Paranoid' Prince Harry lost friends over 'unlawful' newspaper stories, court hears

King Charles shown wearing bracelet from indigenous Amazon leader in new portrait

Wednesday 29 March 2023 23:16 , Joe Middleton A new portrait of King Charles III depicts his "warmth" and "empathy" and shows him wearing a bracelet given to him by an indigenous Amazon leader, the artist has said. Alastair Barford said he wanted to capture Charles's "sensitivity" in the oil painting, with the inclusion of the bracelet a nod to his environmental campaigning.

The picture was commissioned by the Illustrated London News for its special coronation edition, which is on sale from Thursday.

King shown wearing bracelet from indigenous Amazon leader in new portrait

ICYMI: Prince Harry's two words of advice for media on second day of High Court hearing

Wednesday 29 March 2023 22:16 , Joe Middleton Prince Harry had just two words of advice for reporters who had gathered outside the High Court ahead of his arrival. The prince is one of a group of high-profile individuals who have accused the Daily Mail publishers of privacy breaches.

In a witness statement, he accused the royal family of "without doubt" withholding information from him about the alleged phone hacking. As he walked into the building for the second day of the preliminary hearing, he addressed the reporters and said: "Stay dry."

Prince Harry's two words of advice for media on second day of High Court hearing

If Prince Harry has his way, this is going to be the story of 2023

Wednesday 29 March 2023 21:15 , Joe Middleton In the modern world, when conflicts turn hot, they also turn complicated.

When one country invades another, it is not uncommon for it to end up with less, not more, than when it started, writes Tom Peck. Not that long ago, capitalism and communism were engaged in what really should have been a straightforward existential struggle, but it hadn't even been going for all that long before America was secretly selling guns to Iran and sending the profits to a guerrilla movement in Nicaragua for reasons that really don't make sense even on the tenth reading of the Wikipedia page on the subject. Prince Harry is suing the Daily Mail for running what he alleges to be a covert surveillance operation on him, yet his witness statement on the matter appears to be more concerned with ramping up another conflict - with his own family.

If Prince Harry has his way, this is going to be the story of 2023 | Tom Peck

Duke of Sussex's privacy claim should be rejected 'in its entirety', High Court hears

Wednesday 29 March 2023 20:15 , Joe Middleton

The Duke of Sussex's privacy claim against the publisher of the Daily Mail is rejected "in its entirety", brought "far too late", and should be thrown out by a judge, the High Court has been told. Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) says legal challenges brought by a number of high-profile individuals, including Sir Elton John and Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, have "no real prospects of succeeding" at a trial. The publisher's lawyers argued at the High Court in London on Wednesday that the cases should be dismissed or a judgment made in its favour without a trial.

But the legal team for Harry and others say ANL's bid is "hopeless, plainly inappropriate and suggestive of a tactical gamble" to avoid a full trial.

King Charles plants tree with German president during Berlin visit

Wednesday 29 March 2023 19:15 , Joe Middleton

Voices: I'm an artist who paints in blood - this is why I'm so angry with Prince Harry

Wednesday 29 March 2023 18:15 , Joe Middleton I am an anti-war artist and a former Soviet soldier. I reject Harry's comments about killing people as though they are pieces on a chessboard, writes Andrei Molodkin.

I am drenching St Paul's Cathedral in Royal Blood - the UK's Royal Coat of Arms filled with the blood of Afghan people who have not forgotten the illegal war on their land and who are against Harry's comments about his desensitised killings.

Opinion: I'm an artist who uses blood - this is why I'm angry with Prince Harry

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have 'paternal' friendship with Harry

Wednesday 29 March 2023 17:15 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Sir Elton John and David Furnish have a "paternal and protective" friendship with the Duke of Sussex, the singer's husband has said. The couple are part of a group - along with Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, former Liberal Democrat MP Sir Simon Hughes and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley - bringing claims over allegations Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) carried out or commissioned illegal or unlawful information-gathering.

The allegations - which are denied - include the hiring of private investigators to place listening devices inside cars and the accessing and recording of private phone conversations.

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have 'paternal' friendship with Harry

Prince Harry's two words of advice for media on second day of High Court hearing

Wednesday 29 March 2023 16:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Prince Harry had just two words of advice for reporters who had gathered outside the High Court ahead of his arrival. The prince is one of a group of high-profile individuals who have accused the Daily Mail publishers of privacy breaches.

Prince Harry's two words of advice for media on second day of High Court hearing

Prince Harry's relationship with the press used to be 'mutually parasitic' - now it's openly antagonistic

Wednesday 29 March 2023 16:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Up on the third floor, in the strip-lit, pine-clad bowels of the Royal Courts of Justice there's a sign on the door of Court 76 that says "Sussex and Others".

You could be forgiven for thinking you'd got lost in a very sterile beer festival or a Shakespearean costume store, Tom Peck writes. On Monday, Court 76 broke all attendance records for a pre-trial hearing, at least in the view of its presiding judge Mr Justice Nicklin. Elton John and David Furnish, Doreen Lawrence, Sadie Frost and of course Sussex himself all lined up to listen to interminable legal argument that will cost you about GBP800 an hour just to pay someone to understand for you. Day two, by contrast, was for the diehards, and Sussex - also known as Prince Harry - is going to be dying very hard indeed.

This is only a pre-trial hearing in his action against the publishers of the Daily Mail, over breaches of privacy and the illegal gathering of information (chiefly by private investigators), which Associated Newspapers denies. It is the sort of thing that the rich and famous rarely bother with, but arguably, it's certainly bothering the most famous person in the world right now.

Harry's relationship with the press isn't parasitic, it's antagonistic | Tom Peck

In pictures: Charles and Camilla visit Germany on first state visit

Wednesday 29 March 2023 15:21 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla visited the presidential Bellevue Palace in Berlin this afternoon, after being greeted by Germany's president at Brandenburg Gate.

The royal tour is the King's first state visit, having postponed a trip to France due to widespread political protests.

(AFP via Getty Images)

(PA)

Germany's president welcome Charles and Camilla in Berlin

Wednesday 29 March 2023 14:49 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In the shadow of Berlin's Brandenburg Gate - a national symbol of peace and unity - Germany's president Frank-Walter Steinmeier and wife Elke Budenbender formally welcomed the King and Queen Consort. The foursome posed for the waiting photographers with the famous landmark in the background before the national anthems of Germany and the UK were played.

The King inspected a guard of honour, accompanied by the president, before Charles, Camilla, the German statesman and his wife went on a brief walkabout meeting people waiting behind nearby crash barriers.

Britain's King Charles III (2nd R) and Britain's Camilla (2nd L), Queen Consort, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier (R) and his wife Elke Buedenbender pose during a welcome ceremony at Brandenburg Gate in Berli (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Charles and Camilla touch down in Germany at start of first state visit

Wednesday 29 March 2023 14:20 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The King and Queen Consort have arrived in Germany for the start of their first state visit - a three-day tour of one of the EU's leading nations. Charles and Camilla said in a joint statement, released on their official Twitter account, it was a "great joy" to be able to develop the "longstanding friendship between our two nations".

The couple were greeted by a 21-gun salute and a fly-past by two fighter jets after they emerged from the ministerial plane Voyager and paused at the top of the steps.

(AFP via Getty Images)

As a mark of respect two Typhoon jets escorted the plane carrying the King and Queen Consort, their entourage and a large number of media for a period as it approached Berlin-Brandenburg Government Airport. The trip has been overshadowed by the postponement of the French leg of the European tour, which was shelved by President Emmanuel Macron last Friday after violent nationwide protests against the French leader's retirement age reforms. The decision was made amid reports the King may have been targeted during further demonstrations planned by protestors to coincide with the visit.

"Ahead of our first state visit to Germany, we are very much looking forward to meeting all of those who make this country so special," the King and his wife said in their joint statement. "It is a great joy to be able to continue the deepening of the longstanding friendship between our two nations."

King Charles III keeps eye on prize after tour starts late

Wednesday 29 March 2023 13:50 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Britain's new king will make his debut on the world stage Wednesday, three days later and 550 miles (885 kilometers) northeast of where he had intended.

Although King Charles III will be greeted with a hearty "willkommen" in Berlin rather than "bienvenue" in Paris, his goals remain the same: to cement Britain's improving relations with Europe and show that he can help the U.K. win hearts and minds abroad just as his mother did so successfully for seven decades. But the decision to cancel the first leg of his trip due to protests over planned pension changes in France may make it harder for Charles to make his mark during his first big international mission as monarch. And first impressions matter as Charles, 74, prepares for his coronation on May 6.

King Charles III keeps eye on prize after tour starts late

Watch live as King Charles and Camilla arrive in Berlin in overseas debut

Wednesday 29 March 2023 13:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Watch live as King Charles III and Queen Consort, Camilla, arrive in Berlin for his first overseas state visit as monarch. The first leg of the King's trip to France was cancelled due to ongoing protests over controversial pension reform. German president Frank-Walter Steinmeier will welcome Charles and Camilla at the historic Brandenburg Gate.

On Thursday, the King is expected to deliver a speech to the Bundestag, the German parliament, and meet with chancellor Olaf Scholz.

Watch live as King Charles and Camilla arrive in Berlin in overseas debut

King arrives in Berlin

Wednesday 29 March 2023 13:14 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The King has arrived in Berlin for his first overseas state visit as monarch. Their plane landed at the capital's Brandenburg Airport.

(AFP via Getty Images)

Star line-up for Camilla's first literary festival

Wednesday 29 March 2023 13:00 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

The Queen Consort's literary charity has revealed the line-up for its first ever festival. Dame Judi Dench, Gyles Brandreth, Dame Harriet Walter, Philippa Gregory, David Olusoga, Ben Macintyre, Kate Mosse, David Harewood, Robert Harris and Ken Follett will be among the actors and authors appearing at Hampton Court Palace on June 11. The one-day event will also see The Queen's Reading Room join forces with The Royal Society of Literature to stage a memorial event for the late Wolf Hall trilogy author Dame Hilary Mantel, overlooked by Anne Boleyn's Gateway.

And the cast of the West End show Austentatious will improvise a new Jane Austen novel inspired by a title dreamt up by Camilla.

(Getty)

Dame Judi will appear in conversation with Brandreth to discuss her life, career and love of Shakespeare. Camilla's reading room began as an Instagram book club inspired during lockdown, but was relaunched as a charity in February to work on advancing education by promoting the appreciation of literature among adults and children. Vicki Perrin, chief executive of The Queen's Reading Room, said: "There is a special kind of magic to be found in a book, and great wonder in listening to authors speak about their work.

"I have no doubt that visitors will find themselves inspired by these great minds, enjoy connecting with fellow readers, and I hope that they will come away transformed into lifelong literature lovers." The festival is a co-production between The Queen's Reading Room and Historic Royal Palaces, the independent charity that cares for Hampton Court Palace. Proceeds will go towards the ongoing work of both charities and tickets are available via thequeensreadingroom.co.uk

New portrait of Charles shows King wearing bracelet from indigenous Amazon leader

Wednesday 29 March 2023 12:36 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

A new portrait of the King depicts his "warmth" and "empathy" and shows him wearing a bracelet given to him by an indigenous Amazon leader, the artist has said. Alastair Barford said he wanted to capture Charles's "sensitivity" in the oil painting, with the inclusion of the bracelet a nod to his environmental campaigning. The picture was commissioned by the Illustrated London News for its special coronation editio, which is on sale from Thursday.

Charles did not sit for the portrait, but Mr Barford attended a biodiversity reception at Buckingham Palace and spent around an hour and a half observing the King as he greeted guests. He said of his work: "I wanted it to be more about the man and less about the role so I was trying to capture something of a warmth and an empathy which I saw in his interactions with those people when I was there. "I felt that there was a sort of a sensitivity."

Amazon Indigenous leader Domingo Peas (right), presents a gift to King Charles III during a reception to discuss the practical delivery of the global biodiversity framework at Buckingham Palace, Londo (PA)

Charles was presented with a necklace made from seeds - symbolic of an alliance between the King and indigenous people - and a bracelet by Domingo Peas, leader of the Achuar Nation of the Ecuadorian Amazon, at the Palace reception in February.

Mr Barford said: "I thought it was really nice to leave the bracelet in as a nod to the event and a nod to his interest in environmental matters." The artist, from Bridport in Dorset, was also commissioned by Illustrated London News to paint the late Queen in 2015.

Watch: Prince Harry's two words of advice for media on second day of High Court hearing

Wednesday 29 March 2023 12:10 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Harry claims ANL journalists are 'criminals with journalistic powers'

Wednesday 29 March 2023 11:40 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain In a witness statement made public on Tuesday, Harry alleged that journalists at ANL "are criminals with journalistic powers which should concern every single one of us".

"The British public deserve to know the full extent of this cover-up and I feel it is my duty to expose it," he said. However, in a statement, a spokesperson for ANL said Harry "has become a serial litigant against Mail newspapers with whom he seems obsessed". They continued: "Associated Newspapers profoundly regrets his untrue, inflammatory and deeply offensive remarks about the Mail's journalists.

"If they were repeated outside court, they would be highly defamatory." Baroness Lawrence claims to have been the victim of the illegal interception of her voicemails, monitoring of her bank accounts and "corrupt payments to serving Metropolitan Police Service police officers, including on the Stephen Lawrence murder investigations, for confidential information". Sir Elton and Mr Furnish have alleged the landline phone of their Windsor home was tapped by investigators on ANL's behalf and that the birth certificate of their first child was unlawfully obtained by the publisher.

But ANL argues that an alleged confession by private investigator Gavin Burrows "prompted the claims" - and highlighted a statement in which he denies being commissioned by its newspapers to conduct unlawful information gathering. The publisher says it "categorically denies" the allegations against it and it is "profoundly saddened" Baroness Lawrence is bringing her case. ANL's lawyers argue the claims are "stale" and "largely inferential".

The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to conclude on Thursday, with a ruling expected at a later date.

Prince Harry not at High Court for third day of hearing

Wednesday 29 March 2023 11:04 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The Duke of Sussex was not present at the High Court for the start of the third day of a hearing over multiple privacy claims against the Daily Mail's publisher. Proceedings in Court 76 at the Royal Court of Justice in London resumed on Wednesday morning without Harry.

The duke, who unexpectedly appeared at court earlier this week, is one of seven people bringing claims against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) over denied allegations it carried out or commissioned illegal or unlawful information gathering. Those bringing claims include Baroness Doreen Lawrence of Clarendon, Sir Elton John and his husband David Furnish and actress Sadie Frost - all of whom have made appearances during the ongoing preliminary hearing. Mr Furnish and Ms Frost returned to the courtroom on Wednesday.

The group's allegations, which are denied, include that ANL hired private investigators to place listening devices inside cars, "blag" private records and access and record private phone conversations over a period starting from 1993. ANL is trying to have the claims dismissed without a trial at the hearing, which is due to end this week.

Harry leaving the High Court on Tuesday (REUTERS)

What are Prince Harry's claims?

Wednesday 29 March 2023 10:30 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain His lawyers claim he was "deprived of important aspects of his teenage years" by the "unlawful actions" of Associated Newspapers.

"In particular, suspicion and paranoia was caused by Associated's publication of the unlawful articles: friends were lost or cut off as a result and everyone became a 'suspect', since he was misled by the way that the articles were written into believing that those close to him were the source of this information being provided to Associated's newspapers," they argue in a written submission. They say the actions of Associated Newspapers amounted to "a major betrayal" of promises made by the media after the death of Harry's mother, Diana, Princess of Wales. The hearing before Mr Justice Nicklin is due to conclude on Thursday, but Buckingham Palace said the King would be unable to meet his son because of prior commitments, including an official state visit to Germany on Wednesday

David Furnish arrives at High Court

Wednesday 29 March 2023 10:23 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain

Candian filmmaker David Furnish has arrived at the High Court in London.

(REUTERS)

Sadie Frost arrives at the High Court for third day of hearing

Wednesday 29 March 2023 10:07 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Actress Sadie Frost has arrived at the Royal Courts Of Justice, central London, ahead of a hearing claim over allegations of unlawful information gathering brought against Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL).

(PA)

(PA)

Sir Elton John and David Furnish have 'paternal' friendship with Harry

Wednesday 29 March 2023 09:45 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain Sir Elton John and David Furnish have a "paternal and protective" friendship with the Duke of Sussex, the singer's husband has said.

The couple are part of a group - along with Harry, Baroness Doreen Lawrence, former Liberal Democrat MP Sir Simon Hughes and actresses Sadie Frost and Liz Hurley - bringing claims over allegations Associated Newspapers Limited (ANL) carried out or commissioned illegal or unlawful information-gathering. The allegations - which are denied - include the hiring of private investigators to place listening devices inside cars and the accessing and recording of private phone conversations. In his witness statement, which was released on Tuesday, Mr Furnish wrote about the friendship he and Sir Elton have with Harry.

King and Queen Consort to visit Germany after France trip cancelled

Wednesday 29 March 2023 09:25 , Maryam Zakir-Hussain The King and Queen Consort are expected to arrive in Germany today after the couple's visit to France was postponed due to civil unrest in the country. Charles and Camilla were due to begin the first state visit of the King's reign on Sunday but the trip was shelved after a night of violent demonstrations across France that led to hundreds of arrests and police being injured.

President Emmanuel Macron said the four-day state visit was likely to be rescheduled for the beginning of summer, after Downing Street confirmed the French leader had asked the British Government to postpone the trip. Charles and Camilla were due to travel from France to Germany for a state visit from Wednesday to Friday, and the visit to Berlin will proceed as planned.

(PA)

France has faced an eruption of violent demonstrations over forced-through pension reforms. Sylvie Bermann, who served as Paris's ambassador to Britain between 2014 and 2017, said Mr Macron wanted the visit to go ahead "until the last minute" before realising the situation was untenable.

She said a planned state banquet at the Palace of Versailles for Charles and Camilla would "not have given a good image".

Lord Ricketts, a former national security adviser, said the lavish Versailles dinner would have had "echoes" of the French revolution if it had gone ahead during a public outcry at Mr Macron's decision to push back the national retirement age.