Closing summary
Today’s proceedings in the high court are coming to a close. The day has focused upon the claims made by the Duke of Sussex. Here’s a summary of what happened today:
Prince Harry did not arrive in court in person – to the annoyance of the presiding judge.
The duke’s barrister, David Sherborne, told the court Harry had left Los Angeles the previous evening because he had been celebrating his daughter’s birthday.
Mr Justice Fancourt said he was “a little surprised” to hear the duke would not be attending court on Monday. The judge said he gave a direction earlier in the trial that witnesses should be available the day before their evidence was due to be heard in case the legal teams’ opening speeches ran short.
Sherborne outlined some of the details of Harry’s claim, including Mirror Group articles that were submitted as evidence of unlawful information gathering, such as phone hacking.
Harry was subjected to the interception of voicemails, the use of a large number of private investigators to obtain information about him and the various aspects of his personal life, as well as “blagging” billing data and other private information.
The claim covers three periods, Sherborne says, from 1996 to 1999, from 1999 to 2006, and then from 2007 to 2011.
Sherborne told the court Diana, Princess of Wales was a “huge target” for MGN’s newspapers, adding that certain unlawful activities in relation to her would have also affected Harry.
Under Piers Morgan’s leadership, Daily Mirror reporters allegedly hacked the phone of Diana, Princess of Wales, Sherborne told the court.
Andrew Green KC said there was no evidence that hacking of Harry’s phone took place. “Zilch, zero, nil, de nada, niente, nothing,” he said.
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Updated
The proceedings have concluded for the day – but will continue tomorrow with Prince Harry in the witness box.
