Prince Harry Asked To Explain Alleged Evidence Destruction In Tabloid Lawsuit

Prince Harry has been ordered to provide a detailed explanation regarding the alleged destruction of potential evidence in his continued lawsuit against a British tabloid publisher. 

The Duke of Sussex, 39, is suing News Group Newspapers (NGN), the publisher of The Sun, over claims of invasions of privacy by their journalists and investigators between 1994 and 2016.

The case has taken a significant legal twist, as the court has expressed deep concerns over the “troubling evidence” of missing documents and communications. The court has heard allegations that Harry deleted drafts of his 2023 memoir, Spare, and messages with the book’s ghostwriter, J.R. Moehringer, between 2021 and 2023.

In a strongly worded statement, Justice Fancourt expressed his “cause for concern” over the lack of documentation and described the situation as “rather remarkable.” The judge has now ordered Prince Harry, who was not present in court, to provide a witness statement that explains what happened to the messages between himself and his ghostwriter and whether any attempts were made to retrieve them.

Prince Harry’s attorney, David Sherborne, has resisted the allegations and accused NGN of a “transparent, old-fashioned fishing expedition.” Sherborne argued that the Duke of Sussex has already “made clear that he has conducted extensive searches, going above and beyond his obligations,” which included a physical search of his California home and inquiries to the “Royal Household” about relevant documents.

Prince Harry is one of the dozens suing NGN for invasions of privacy by journalists and investigators from 1994 to 2016. Some cases will likely be heard at a trial in January 2025.

The Duke has been involved in four lawsuits against newspaper publishers in the U.K. over allegations of phone hacking and other unlawful acts. Separately, he lost a legal challenge to have police security in the U.K. earlier this year. Prince Harry had previously said he “felt forced” to step back from his royal role and leave the U.K. in 2020, and cited security concerns for his family. However, a High Court judge upheld the government’s decision not to provide automatic protection for him and his family.