Harry blames press intrusion for Chelsy’s breakup

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By Dominic Casciani and Oliver SlowBBC NewsMay 10, 2023, 5:44 PM BST

Updated 27 minutes ago

image source, Getty Images

The Duke of Sussex has blamed the alleged illegal intrusion into his privacy by journalists for the breakdown of his relationship with Chelsy Davy.

In a witness statement, Prince Harry claimed Ms Davy decided “a royal life was not for her” following repeated acts of harassment.

The claims emerged in a High Court case against Mirror Group Newspapers brought by several high profile figures.

MGN denies allegations of voicemail interception in the cases.

He also claimed that some of the cases brought were beyond a legal deadline.

Ms Davy and Prince Harry were in an on-and-off relationship between 2004 and 2010.

In a summary of her witness statement, the Duke’s lawyers alleged illegal activity ’caused great challenges’ in the relationship and led Ms Davy to decide ‘a royal life was not for her’ .

This included journalists booking into a hotel in Bazaruto, a small island off the coast of Mozambique where Harry and Ms Davy had tried to escape in order to “enjoy the peace and quiet”, the document said.

Lawyers also said mobile phone call data to be used in the trial shows Ms Davy was targeted for voicemail interception between 2007 and 2009.

The activities caused him “enormous distress” and “presented very real safety concerns not only for me but for everyone around me,” he said, adding that they also created ” huge amount of paranoia” in future relationships.

“Whenever he was in a relationship, or even a supposed relationship, that person’s entire family, and often his friends, were ‘swept into the chaos’ and found themselves the object of illegal activity on the part of MGN,” the attorneys said. .

Prince Harry’s lawyers allege his mobile number was recorded on a handheld device belonging to ‘prolific hacker and Sunday Mirror news manager’ Nick Buckley.

The prince is also expected to allege he suffered what was, in hindsight, a voicemail interception relating to 30 people he had a close relationship with.

He is due to give evidence in June – the first time a member of the royal family will testify in court in modern times.

MGN did not admit any of the charges, although it said it “unreservedly apologizes” for a separate case of unlawful information-gathering against Harry and said the legal challenge brought by the prince “justified compensation”.

The article to which this incident refers – concerning an MGN reporter asking a private detective to illegally gather information about Harry’s activities at the Chinawhite nightclub one night in February 2004 – is not part of the allegations presented by the prince .

MGN said it would never happen again.

In written submissions, MGN lawyer Andrew Green KC said the publisher denied that 28 of the 33 articles in Harry’s claim involved phone hacking or any other illegal information gathering.

He said the stories came from various other sources, including other members of the Royal Family.

Mr Green added that it was “not admitted” that five of the 33 articles contained illegal news gathering.

Other celebrities have filed suits against MGN, with “test cases” – including Prince Harry’s – being selected for trial from among the wider group of claimants.

They include that of former Coronation Street actress Nikki Sanderson, comedian Paul Whitehouse’s ex-wife Fiona Wightman and actor Michael Turner – who played Kevin Webster in Coronation Street and goes by his stage name Michael Le Vell. All are expected to testify during the six to seven week trial.

The court heard Ms Sanderson felt like ‘public property’ and suffered abuse on the streets following ‘false innuendo’ in articles published by MGN.

“[She had] people yelling at her in the street calling her a ‘whore’ or ‘slag’ or ‘bitch’ and even being physically assaulted on numerous occasions,” attorney David Sherborne said.

Mr Turner was accused by other cast members of being a ‘mole’ amid an alleged phone hack, the court heard.

The hearing focuses on what senior MGN executives knew about the alleged phone hacking – including TV host Piers Morgan, who was editor of the Daily Mirror between 1995 and 2004.

Mr Sherborne told the court illegal newsgathering was both habitual and widespread across three newspapers – the Mirror, the Sunday Mirror and the Sunday People – between 1991 and 2011.

He described “a flood of illegalities”, adding that “this flood was authorized and approved” by senior management.

The lawyer also accused the executives of misleading the Leveson Inquiry – the inquiry into press practices, culture and ethics – which he denies.

In written arguments, Mr Sherborne said it was ‘inconceivable’ that Mr Morgan and other editors were unaware that MGN reporters were commissioning private investigators to obtain information.

“The systemic and widespread use of PIs [private investigators] by MGN journalists to illegally obtain private information has been cleared at higher levels,” said Mr Sherborne, who also represents the Duke.

Mr Morgan has repeatedly denied any knowledge of phone hacking or illegal activity at the Daily Mirror when he was editor.

MGN has already settled a number of claims against it regarding stories obtained through illegal means.

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